Cedar virus and methods of use

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed towards a novel virus, called Cedar Virus, and its methods of use.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Part of the work performed during development of this invention utilized U.S. Government funds under National Institutes of Health Grant Nos. AI054715. The U.S. Government has certain rights in this invention.

SEQUENCE LISTING SUBMISSION VIA EFS-WEB

A computer readable text file, entitled “044508-5045-WO-SequenceListing.txt” created on or about Jan. 10, 2018 with a file size of about 70 kb contains the sequence listing for this application and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a novel virus, called Cedar Virus, and its methods of use.

Background of the Invention

Henipaviruses were first discovered in the 1990s in disease outbreaks in farm animals and humans in Australia and Malaysia (1, 2). These viruses comprise the only known Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4) agents in the family Paramyxoviridae (3), and mortality is between 40% to 100% in both humans and animals (4, 5), depending upon the virus, animal species and geographic locations of outbreaks. The genus Henipavirus in the subfamily Paramyxovirinae currently contains two members, Hendra virus (HeV) and Nipah virus (NiV), with fruit bats, commonly known as flying foxes, as having been identified as the main natural reservoir of both viruses. Serological evidence, however, also suggests that henipaviruses may circulate in other types of bats (7-10).

The discovery of henipaviruses has had a significant impact on our overall understanding of paramyxoviruses. Indeed, Paramyxoviruses, such as measles virus and canine distemper virus, have a narrow host range and are known to be genetically stable with a close to uniform genome size shared by all members of Paramyxovirinae (3). Henipaviruses, however, shifted these paradigms as these viruses have a much wider host range and a significantly larger genome (6).

Recently, research on henipavirus has successfully identified functional cellular receptors and has driven the development of novel diagnostics, vaccine and therapeutics (15-25). There is, however, little understanding of the pathogenesis of these highly lethal viruses, due in part to the requirement of a high security BSL4 facility needed to conduct live infection studies and in part to the limited number of research tools available used in the current animal models. Research into the mechanisms of henipavirus pathogenesis is also hampered by the lack of related, non-pathogenic or less pathogenic viruses that could be used in comparative pathogenetic studies.

Recent serological investigations in China and other regions indicated the presence of cross-reactive, but not necessarily cross-neutralizing, antibodies to henipaviruses in bats of different species (8). Detection of henipavirus-like genomic sequences in African bats further support the results obtained from the serological investigations (26).

The invention disclosed herein is directed to the isolation and characterization of a newly discovered henipavirus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards a novel virus, named Cedar Virus (“CedPV”), and its methods of use.

The present invention is also directed towards the individual proteins, and fragments thereof, as well as the coding sequences of the individual proteins that make up the CedPV.

The present invention is also directed to antibodies or fragments thereof that specifically bind to CedPV.

The present invention is also directed to vaccines and/or other therapeutic compositions comprising at least a portion of the CedPV.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts the genome sizes and organization of CedPV compared to those of the prototype viruses of the five existing genera in the subfamily Paramyxovirinae. Each of the coding and non-coding regions is drawn to scale. The six major genes present in all paramyxovirus genomes are indicated as follows: shaded=RNA polymerase and nucleocapsid genes (N, P and L); slanted=envelope membrane protein genes (F and attachment protein); dotted=matrix protein (M). The small in the genome of the mumps virus represents the gene (SH) not commonly shared among members of the subfamily.

FIG. 2 depicts a comparison of genomic features among different henipaviruses. (A) Alignment of leader and trailer sequences (antigenome sequences shown). (B) Sequences of intergenic regions (IGR) and transcriptional start and stop sties of CedPV in comparison with those of HeV and niV.

FIGS. 3A-3C depict a phylogenetic tree of selected paramyxoviruses. (FIG. 3A) The tree is based on the N protein sequences Virus name (abbreviation) and GenBank accession numbers are as follows: Avian paramyxovirus 6 (APMV6) AY029299; Atlantic salmon paramyxovirus (AsaPV) EU156171; Beilong virus (BeiPV) DQ100461; Bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (bPIV3) AF178654; Canine distemper virus (CDV) AF014953; Cedar virus (CedPV) JQ001776; Fer-de-lance virus (FdIPV) AY141760; Hendra virus (HeV) AF017149; Human parainfluenza virus 2 (hPIV2) AF533010; Human parainfluenza virus 3 (hPIV3) Z11575; Human parainfluenza virus 4a (hPIV4a) AB543336; Human parainfluenza virus 4b (hPIV4b) EU627591; J virus (JPV) AY900001; Menangle virus (MenPV) AF326114; Measles virus (MeV) AB016162; Mossman virus (MosPV) AY286409; Mapeura virus (MprPV) EF095490; Mumps virus (MuV) AB000388; Newcastle disease virus (NDV) AF077761; Nipah virus, Bangladesh strain (NiV-B) AY988601; Nipah virus, Malaysian strain (NiV-M) AJ627196; Parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5) AF052755; Peste-des-petits-ruminants (PPRV) X74443; Porcine rubulavirus (PorPV) BK005918; Rinderpest virus (RPV) Z30697; Salem virus (SaIPV) AF237881; Sendai virus (SeV) M19661; Simian virus 41 (SV41) X64275; Tioman virus (TioPV) AF298895; Tupaia paramyxovirus (TupPV) AF079780. (FIG. 3B) The tree is based on whole genome sequence. (FIG. 3C) The tree is based on a 550-nt region of the L-gene.

FIG. 4 depicts the sequencing trace files for the editing site of P genes for HeV (SEQ ID NO: 9) and NiV (SEQ ID NO: 10) in comparison to the editing site of the CedPV P (SEQ ID NO: 11) gene. Trace files showing editing of the HeV and NiV P gene (indicated by the * sign) and lack of editing in CedPV P gene mRNA in infected cells. Sequencing of PCR products covering all potential editing sites in the P gene of CedPV did not reveal any RNA editing activity. A representative potential editing site of the CedPV P gene is shown.

FIG. 5 depicts the antigenic cross reactivity between CedPV and HeV. Vero cells infected with CedPV and HeV, respectively, were stained with rabbit sera raised against recombinant N proteins of each virus.

FIG. 6 depicts antigenic cross reactivity of CedPV with other paramyxoviruses. An Indirect Fluorescent Antibody (IFAT) assay conducted with anti-CedPV serum on Vero cells infected with J paramyxovirus (JPV), Rinderpest virus (RPV), Sendai virus (SeV), Menangle virus (MenPV) and CedPV, respectively. Mock infected cell monolayer was included as a negative control. The only panel showing reactivity is the CedPV panel.

FIG. 7 depicts the functional testing of ephrin-B2 and -B3 as an entry receptor for CedPV. Infection of CedPV into HeLa-USU cells in the presence and absence of ephrin gene products is shown. The susceptibility of infection, as an indirect measurement of receptor function, is demonstrated by the formation of syncytial cytopathic effect (CPE).

FIGS. 8A-8D depict the immunohistochemical analysis of bronchial lymph node of CedPV-infected ferrets. Bronchial lymph node of ferret #2, euthanized on day 6 pi, was stained with rabbit antiserum against recombinant N protein of CedPV (FIG. 8B) and NiV (FIG. 8D), respectively. Bronchial lymph node of an unrelated ferret (infected with influenza H5N1 from another experiment) was used as negative control and stained with the same anti-CedPV (FIG. 8A) and anti-NiV (FIG. 8C) antisera under identical conditions.

FIG. 9 depicts the results of CedPV glycoprotein mediated cell-cell fusion and heterotypic mixing with HeV and NiV glycoproteins. Various target cell populations are shown in the legend.

FIG. 10 depicts purified soluble ephrin-FC proteins alone or pre-mixed with CedPV-sG, precipitated and analyzed by SDS-PAGE and coomassie. The separated sG is marked and the different ephrin protein patterns are noted. CedPV-sG and ephrin-B2 run close together in lane 3.

FIG. 11 depicts the results of Hela-USU target cell populations prepared by transfecting in the indicated ephrin receptor constructs and then used in cell-cell fusion assay with effector cells expressing either CedPV, HeV or NiV F and G glycoproteins, and a standard fusion-reporter gene assay was carried out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards a novel virus, named Cedar Virus (“CedPV”), and its methods of use. The present invention is also directed towards the individual proteins, and fragments thereof, as well as the coding sequences of the individual proteins that make up the CedPV.

The inventors have isolated a novel paramyxovirus, in particular a Henipavirus. As is well established, the Henipavirus genus belongs to the paramyxovirus family of viruses and includes both the Hendrvirus (HeV) and Nipahvirus (NiV). In all likelihood, the newly isolated CedPV will belong to the henipahvirus genus based on phylogentic studies, see FIG. 3. Regardless of its classification, the inventors establish herein that CedPV is a novel virus that shares antigenic properties, among other properties, with Hendra virus. The newly discovered CedPV is an RNA virus containing a single strand of RNA.

The genome of the virus is presented herein as SEQ ID NO:1.

(SEQ ID NO: 1) 1 accagacaaa ggaagtctag tctccggatt aaatcatatt cgtatgatta atcttaggat 61 cccggtatct agaatctgga tctggattcg gtttaattga attgcgatcg tttataaatt 121 agaaaggaga tttactactc aaaatgtctg acattttcaa tgagactcaa tcatttagaa 181 actatcagtc caacttaggc agagatggca gggccagtgc agcaacgact actttgacaa 241 ctaaagtgag gatctttgtt ccagcgaata ataatccaaa cctcagatgg cgtttaacac 301 tattcttgat ggatgtcgtg aggtcacctg cctccgcaga gtctatgaaa gtgggtgctg 361 ggatatcctt ggtatctatg tatgctgaaa aacccggggc tcttgtgaga gcattattga 421 atgacccaga tgttgaagcg ataatcatag atgtttatgg ctttgatgaa ggtattccta 481 taatggaacg aagaggtgat aaagctacag atgacatgga ttccctaaga aagattgtta 541 aagctgcaca tgatttcagc agaggaagga gtttatttgt tgatcaaagg gtccaggata 601 ttgttatgtc agatatgggg tcatttgtga atgctattac ttccatagag acgcagatat 661 ggattttgat cgcaaaggct gtaactgccc cagatacagc agaagagagc gaaggaagaa 721 gatgggcaaa atatgttcag caaaagaggg ttaatccttt gttcttgatt tctccacaat 781 ggatcaatga catgagatcc ctgattgcgg caagtctttc gcttcgtaaa ttcatggttg 841 aactactgat ggaagctaag aaaggacggg ggacaaaagg aagaataatg gagattgtat 901 ccgatatcgg aaattacgtt gaagagacag gaatggcagg gttcttcgct acaataaagt 961 tcggtcttga gaccaaattc cctgctttgg cacttaatga gctccagagt gacttgaaca 1021 caatgaaaag tctcatgata ctgtacagaa gcataggacc aaaggccccc tttatggtgt 1081 tgttggaaga ttcaattcag accaaatttg ctccaggaag ctatccactt ctttggagtt 1141 ttgcgatggg tgtaggcaca actattgaca gagctatggg tgccttgaac attaacagaa 1201 gttatcttga acctgtctat tttaggctag ggcaacaatc agctaaacat caagcaggaa 1261 atgttgacaa agaaatggca gaaaagttag gattgacaga agaccagatc gtgcacctat 1321 cagctaatgt gaaggatgca agtcaaggta gagatgacaa tcaaatcaac atccgagaag 1381 ggaagttcac aaatgttgtt gatgacatcc aggatcatgc ccagagttcc tctgaggatt 1441 acaatcctag taaaaagagt ttctcaatat tgacgagcat cacatccacc gtagatagtg 1501 ctgacagtag gtctgcaatg aatgagtcaa tgacaacaac atccttgctg aaattgagac 1561 agaggctggc agagaagaaa ggagactcca agaacagtca agacacacct ccaaaaccac 1621 ccagagcaaa agatcaaccc actgatgagg tctccttcat ggattccaat atatgatcag 1681 aatgatggtt aaaatcaacc aactaagggc gcgtagagta ccttcagata gaacactaca 1741 ttaatcgggt gaaacaatag atttatgggt ttggtgctta atttttattt aatcttactt 1801 gcaaaacagg cagctgctac actcgtaacc actcctcaca gtaagggcaa cacgggtcat 1861 agaacttatg cctatagatt acctctatct gtatatctag ctatgattaa aatgtatact 1921 tctgctgacc ggttttctag caacagtcca cattattact ttatgggtat tttttaatca 1981 accttttata atcaaatata ttacaaaaaa cttaggatcc aagtggtcca aacttttttt 2041 gatcaagagt catattggct actttaggag gacactttaa acacaaattg ttacaagagg 2101 atattcatca gatggacaaa ctacaattga ttgaagatgg cctctctact atcaatttta 2161 tacaggaaaa taaggaaaaa ttacagcatt cttacggaag atcctccatc agagagccac 2221 ccacaagtgt cagggttgaa gagtgggaga aatttattcg aaagatcgct tctggacctg 2281 aacaagttca agggggagga tctgagactg agatcacagg cgataatgga gatagaggca 2341 attttaccaa tcctgatcag ggaggcggag tcacaggaca attcgaagaa aggtatcaaa 2401 aatgggggtc acaagattca gaattacaac tggacccaat ggttgtacac gatttcttct 2461 atgacgagag aagggagaat cccgacaatg gaaaatatga ccgcagctct aaaaaacggg 2521 ataatatcag agaaggaaca cgacaggata agtacaataa tcagtctact gatgaattac 2581 tgtcctgcct acaaccatct tctaagaacg atgtcatcaa gaatgaaagt acatcagtgt 2641 caaatttgca tgttacagga aataaactga atcctgacgc aaaacccttt gaacccacct 2701 cccagtcgaa agagcaccca accaccacac agcacaacaa aaatgaccat cagaccgatg 2761 atgattataa gaatagaaga tccagtgaaa acaatgtgat ctctgatcat gccaccacaa 2821 tggaagacaa caacaatttt atcccggcga ccaaaagaaa gaatgcattg agcgaaccca 2881 tatacgtcca ggtattgccc tcaaacacag agggtttctc gggaaaagat tatccactcc 2941 tcaaggacaa ctctgtcaag aagcgtgcag agccagtcat cctagaaact gccaaccacc 3001 ctgcaggctc tgccgaccaa gacacaaatc agattgaaga aaacatgcag ttcaaccttc 3061 caaaactgct cacagaagat acagacgatg aaccagagga taacaatgat tccatgcctc 3121 ttgaggaaga cattagagag atcggttcca tgctaaaaga tggaaccaaa gatatcaaga 3181 caaggatgaa tgagatagat gacgcaatca agaagataaa taagaaatca aaaaatagaa 3241 gtctggatct agaatcagac ggtaaagatc aggggagaag agatccatca gtagacctcg 3301 ggattaaaaa aagaaaggaa gggctaaagg ccgcaatgca aaagacaaaa gagcaattgt 3361 ctataaaagt ggagagagag attggattga acgacaggat atgtcaaaat tcgaagatga 3421 gtacagaaaa gaaattgata tatgctggga tggaaatgga gtatggacaa acgagtactg 3481 ggtcaggagg tccacaagga tcaaaggatg ggacttctga tgatgtccag gtagacgaag 3541 actacgatga aggggaagac tatgaggcta tgccgtcaga taggttttat acaacattat 3601 caggtgaaca aaaggataga tttgatctag atgctaacca aatgtctcag tatgacctcg 3661 aggcccaggt ggatgaatta accagaatga atctcatact ctattctaga ttagaaacta 3721 ctaataagtt gcttattgac atattagatc tagctaaaga aatgccaaag ttagttagaa 3781 aagtggataa tcttgagaga cagatgggta acttgaatat gttaacctct acccttgagg 3841 gtcacctatc ttctgtaatg attatgatac ccggtaagga taagagcgaa aaggaaatcc 3901 ctaaaaatcc ggacctgaga ccaatactgg ggagaagcaa cacgtcgtta actgatgtta 3961 tcgacctaga ccattaccct gataaaggct ccaaaggtat caaaccaagt ggatctggag 4021 acagacagta catcggctct ctagagagca aattttctat aaatgatgag tacaattttg 4081 ctccataccc tatcagggac gaactcctat tgccaggttt aagagatgac aaaaccaatg 4141 cttcatcgtt catcccagat gacacggaca ggtctccaat ggtgctcaaa ataataattc 4201 gacagaacat ccatgatgaa gaagtgaagg atgagctact gtccatacta gaacaacata 4261 acactgtgga ggaattgaat gaaatatgga atactgtgaa tgattacctc gatggcaaca 4321 tctgattaac agatattgag attgatccta ttctaaacaa gtaatctctg ataatgatag 4381 tatggaataa gaatactaat cacactattg tactcttgta gaatcttaac gagtgtctaa 4441 tgtcagattt tagcaacaca tactaataac ttgtaatcca tttctcctta ttccatttaa 4501 tctcacatta gaaaaaactt aggatcccag atttgcaaag tcaaaacggg atctactatc 4561 aggtgttgga gctaacaata gcggagtctg cataacaaat agcgttcaaa gaagtttgaa 4621 aaccatcata gaatatggat ccgtcagatt tgaggaggat tataatggag gatgataaga 4681 gtctggtcaa caatgatgat agtacagaaa ctgattttct cgagaaaact tggagagaag 4741 ggagtaagat tgacaagatc acaccagagg ttgatgaaaa cgggaatatg gtccccaagt 4801 acgttgtctt caacccgggg aaaaatgaga ggaaaacatc cggatatcaa tatatgattt 4861 gttatggttt cattgaggat ggacctatca atggctcacc aagagtcaaa ggtaatatca 4921 gaaccaccgc ttcttttcct ttgggtgttg gaaaaactta ctcgtctcca gaagagatct 4981 tacaagagct gacaacactc aagatcactg tcagaaggac agccggatca aatgagaagt 5041 tggtgtatgg aataacaggg cctttaaatc acctttaccc gtggtataaa gttttgacag 5101 gtggctccat ttttagtgcg gtgaaggtct gtaggaatgt ggatcaaata ctattagaca 5161 gaccccaaat acttagagta ttctttctaa gtataactaa attaacagat aaaggtgtgt 5221 atatgatacc caaaagtgtt ctcgacttca gatcggataa ttcgatggcc ttcaatctgc 5281 ttgtgtatct caagatagac actgacatca ccaaagcagg catcagaggg attgtcaaca 5341 aagaagggga gaggataacg tcattcatgt tacacatcgg taactttaca agaagaggag 5401 gaaaacatta ctcagtggag tattgcaaaa ggaaaattga caaaatgaag ctcacattcg 5461 ccttaggcac tataggcggt ctaagcttac atatcaggat cgatggaagg ataagtaaaa 5521 ggctccaagc acaagttggc tttcagagaa acatttgcta ctcactaatg gacacaaacc 5581 catggttgaa taaattaacg tggaacaata gttgtgaaat acacaaagtc accgctgtca 5641 ttcagccatc tgtgccaaag gacttcatgt tgtatgagga catcttaata gataatacag 5701 gcaagatctt aaaataaagt aggagagtca gtcattaccc agtatattga atactaatga 5761 caactttatt aatccaattc tatctccagt tactagaatt tctaaaacaa ttctactgct 5821 cagcaacgca tctcaaacat tgtgatcttc aattatgatc gacgcattgt aatctatata 5881 gcttttagtt catgaaatac taaaaagggc ttaatcttgt aagttctcag caaatactcc 5941 aatgcaaaag agcgcctcaa catctcaagc agcaccaaaa taaaccacaa tcaatgtgca 6001 acaagagcaa tcgtctaaag tgtgaaaacc aaaatcacag atcagaaagg gcacatattt 6061 cagtcctgta aaaataccaa gtgggattaa taaaagagga tcaatcctta tcattttaag 6121 aaaaacttag gatcccagag atcctaaaga gccaattcct ttatattttg atcttgaagg 6181 gctagaagtc aggctgaaac acagaggtgg aggaacacag gaactaaaat tgatgaaatc 6241 aaccttagct caacatctaa tcaatcaagc ttaagtcatc ctaatactgt atacaaccag 6301 cagcgtagag agtggatttg atttcggcac ccttgcgaag tgaaggctat tactgcctgt 6361 cctttcaatc agaaaattac atttacccat aaagtaatct caacatgtct aacaagagga 6421 caacagtatt gatcataata agctatacgt tattttattt gaataatgca gcaattgtag 6481 ggtttgattt tgataaattg aataaaatag gtgtggtgca agggagagtc ctaaattata 6541 aaattaaagg agatccaatg acaaaagacc ttgtcttgaa atttatccct aacatagtga 6601 atatcactga atgtgtgaga gagcccttga gtaggtacaa tgagaccgtg aggagattgc 6661 ttttacctat acacaacatg cttgggttat acttgaataa cacaaatgct aaaatgactg 6721 ggttgatgat cgcgggtgtg atcatgggtg ggatagcaat aggtatagcc acagcagctc 6781 agatcacagc aggttttgct ctttatgagg caaaaaagaa cacagaaaat attcagaaat 6841 taacagacag catcatgaaa acacaggact cgattgataa acttactgac agtgtgggga 6901 caagcatact tatattgaat aagctacaga catacatcaa caatcaactg gtaccaaatc 6961 tagagcttct atcctgccga caaaacaaaa ttgagtttga tctaatgtta accaagtatt 7021 tggtggatct tatgactgtt attggtccta atatcaataa tcctgttaat aaagatatga 7081 ctattcaatc tttgtcactt ctttttgatg gcaattatga tataatgatg tcagaacttg 7141 gttatacacc tcaggatttc ttagatttga tagagagtaa gagtataaca gggcaaataa 7201 tttatgttga tatggaaaac ttgtacgttg tgatcaggac atatctacct accctaattg 7261 aagtacctga tgcccaaata tatgagttca acaaaataac tatgagtagc aatggaggag 7321 aatacttgtc aaccatacct aatttcatat taataagagg taattatatg tctaatatag 7381 atgttgcaac atgttatatg accaaagcaa gcgtaatttg taatcaagat tattcactcc 7441 cgatgagcca aaacttaaga agctgttatc aaggtgagac agaatactgt cctgttgagg 7501 cagtcatcgc gtcacactct ccaagatttg ctcttacaaa tggagttatt ttcgccaatt 7561 gtataaatac aatttgtagg tgtcaagaca atggtaagac tatcactcaa aacataaacc 7621 aattcgtaag catgatcgac aacagtactt gtaatgatgt catggtagat aagtttacta 7681 tcaaggtagg aaaatatatg gggagaaaag atatcaataa tattaatatc cagataggac 7741 cgcagatcat aattgataag gttgacttgt ctaatgaaat aaacaagatg aatcaatctt 7801 taaaagatag tattttctac ctgagagaag ccaagagaat tttagactca gtaaatatca 7861 gtcttatatc tccaagcgtt caattgtttc taataataat atcagtcctc tcatttatta 7921 tattattgat tatcatagta tacttgtact gtaaatcaaa acattcatat aaatataaca 7981 aatttataga tgatcctgat tattacaatg attacaaaag agaacgtatt aatggcaaag 8041 ccagtaagag taacaatata tattatgtag gtgattaaca atcgataatc taaaggatta 8101 cctcactatc actaccaagg taacttccat gtaagatcgg accttccccg aagacattaa 8161 ataaaactta ggatcccaga gtatccctct aagtgatcct tctagattgg ttactgatat 8221 atatacatat ttatcctctt tccgtcgttg tttattgatc attaataatg ctttctcagc 8281 tccaaaaaaa ttacttagac aactcaaacc aacaaggtga taaaatgaac aacccagata 8341 agaaattaag tgtcaacttc aaccctttag aattagataa aggtcaaaaa gatctcaata 8401 agtcttatta tgttaaaaac aagaattata acgtttcaaa tctattaaat gaaagtctgc 8461 acgatatcaa gttttgtatt tattgtatat tctcactgct aattatcatt acaataatca 8521 atataatcac aatatcaatt gttataactc gtctgaaagt acatgaagag aataatggca 8581 tggaatctcc taatttacaa tctattcaag atagtctctc atctcttact aacatgatca 8641 atacagagat aactcctaga atagggattt tagttacagc cacttctgtt actctctctt 8701 catctatcaa ttatgtcggg actaagacaa atcaactggt caatgaatta aaagattata 8761 taaccaaaag ttgtggcttt aaggtccctg aattaaagtt acatgaatgc aacataagtt 8821 gtgctgatcc aaaaattagc aaatctgcaa tgtacagcac caatgcctat gccgagcttg 8881 ctggtccacc taagatattt tgtaaaagtg tatccaaaga ccccgacttt agactgaagc 8941 agatagatta tgtaatacca gtgcagcaag atcggtctat ttgtatgaac aaccctttat 9001 tggatatttc tgatgggttt tttacctaca tacattatga aggaataaat agctgtaaaa 9061 aatcagattc atttaaagtg ctgctgtcac atggtgaaat agttgacagg ggtgattatc 9121 gaccatcatt atatctatta tcaagtcatt accatcctta ttcaatgcag gtaataaact 9181 gtgtacctgt gacttgtaac cagtcatcct ttgtattctg tcatatctcc aacaacacta 9241 aaacattgga caattcagat tactcgtcag acgagtacta cataacatat ttcaatggca 9301 tagatcgtcc caaaaccaag aagattccca ttaacaatat gacagcagac aatcgttata 9361 tccattttac attctcaggt gggggaggtg tatgtttagg tgaagaattt attattcctg 9421 ttaccacagt catcaatact gatgtattca cgcatgatta ttgtgagagt ttcaactgtt 9481 cagtccaaac cggtaaaagt ctaaaggaga tatgctctga gtcattaaga tctccaacga 9541 actcatcgcg atacaattta aacggaatca tgattataag tcaaaacaac atgacagatt 9601 ttaagattca gttgaatggt ataacttata acaaactgtc attcggaagt cctggaagac 9661 tgagcaagac actgggccag gtcctttatt accaatcttc aatgagttgg gatacttatc 9721 taaaggcagg atttgtcgag aaatggaaac cctttacccc gaattggatg aacaatactg 9781 tgatatccag acctaaccaa ggtaattgtc caaggtatca taaatgcccc gagatatgtt 9841 atggagggac atacaatgat attgctcctt tagatctagg aaaagacatg tatgttagcg 9901 ttattctaga ttcagatcag cttgcagaga atccagagat tacagtattt aactctacta 9961 ctatacttta taaggagaga gtatccaaag atgaactaaa cacaagaagt actacaacga 10021 gctgttttct tttcctagat gaaccttggt gtatatcagt attagaaaca aacagattta 10081 acggcaaatc tattaggccc gagatttatt catacaaaat tcctaagtat tgttaatttg 10141 atgagcttat tcctcatact tcaatcaaat ttaatataac taatatcaaa ttgttgcact 10201 cagctattat taaaactgga tcatcagaca ataaagatgt atacaaagat atatcgaaga 10261 gggtattaaa gaaaacttag gatcccagat ccttcaataa ggcagagcct tgattgtatc 10321 agcgtcattt acaattgaat ctcaattaac aacactgatt aataacttaa gcagaatact 10381 cctattacag tgtttaattg acttaatttt aattgaggat tttataatcc tataattgga 10441 gcagatctaa actctcaccg attcagttct aatcctttat taactaaaga acaaattcta 10501 aataattgga tgacgtcaca ggagacaagc tggaaacaat ttagttagaa ggaagaaacc 10561 ttttaccaga tatggaaagt gactttgata tatctgttag cgacgtactg tacccagaat 10621 gtcatttgga cagtcctata gtcggcggta agctcattac ttctcttgag tatgcgaatt 10681 tgactcataa ccaacctcat gaagatcaga cattgctgac taatataaat gtcaataaaa 10741 agaagaagat aaaaagtcct ctaatatccc aacaatcttt atttggaaat gaggttaata 10801 aggagatttt cgatcttaaa aattattacc atgtccccta tccagaatgt aacagagatt 10861 tattcttaat ctctgatgac aaaatagcat tcaaactcag taaaatcatg gataattcta 10921 ataaactgtt tgatggttta gagaggaaac tgagtcgctt aatttcgaat gtagataatc 10981 aactattaaa tgcaacctct cttcataata attctgagat ggatcggaag ggaaaagaac 11041 atccttgctt cccagaaaag agcacaattg atgatgtaag acagcagaga cagacacgag 11101 attttccaaa gaattcaact agagagggaa gatctccaaa acaccctgat gccggtccta 11161 cacctgaaaa cagtgccaaa aacgatttgc atagagacaa cacagacaat atgccaacag 11221 gccatagttc gacatctatg aaaaaaccta aaatatctgg agaagaatat cttagtatgt 11281 ggctagactc agaggatttg ggttctaaac gaatttctgc acaattaggg aaggatgtat 11341 catgtaaagg ccatctgcac acgacagaag acaaaccgat aatagttcct gacactcgat 11401 atatccaaaa tcatgaatct aataacgata ttttccccaa aaaagagaaa aaattctgca 11461 aacttccacc gtcatcggat aatttaacca aaatcatggt gaattcaaaa tggtacaatc 11521 ctttcctttt ttggtttact gtcaagactg aacttagagc ctgccagaag gagaactaca 11581 aaaggaaaaa cagaaaattg ggaattatca catcgattaa aggttcatgc tataagttga 11641 tactcaacca gaatctagta gcaatattcg aggaagacag cagtggatac tcagatcata 11701 aaaaaagaaa aaaacgatgc tactatctaa ctcccgaaat ggtccttatg ttctccgatg 11761 taactgaagg aagattgatg attgatgttg caatgagatt tgacaaaaag tacaaaactc 11821 tagagaaaaa ggctttgaaa ttatggtttc ttatagacga gttatttcct tctatgggaa 11881 atagagtgta taatattata tccatgcttg agcctttgac tctcgcgata ttacaggtta 11941 aggatgagtc aaggttgttg agaggtgcat tcatgcatca ttgtttaggt gacctcttcg 12001 aagaacttcg agagtccaag aactacccgg aagatgagat caagagattt gccaacgacc 12061 taataaatgt catgacctgt cgggacattc atttagtagc agaattcttc tcattcttta 12121 ggactttcgg acatccaata ttgaacgctc aaactgcagc caggaaagtt agagagtaca 12181 tgttagcaga taaaatcctt gagtacgaac ctatcatgaa aggtcatgcg attttctgtg 12241 ctataatcat aaatggattt agagatagac atggaggagt ttggcctcct cttgatcttc 12301 caaaacattg ttcaaagaac ataatatctc tcaaaaatac aggtgaaggg gtaacttatg 12361 aagtagcaat aaacaattgg agatcatttg tcgggttaaa gttcaaatgt tttatgggtc 12421 tcaatttaga caatgatctc agcatgtaca tgaaagataa agcattatca cctttaaggg 12481 atctttggga ttcaatctat tcacgtgaag taatgtccta ccaaccacct agaaacaaaa 12541 aatcaagaag attggttgag gttttcgttg atgatcagga ctttgatccc gttgatatga 12601 taaattatgt tctgaccgga gaatatctca gagatgatga tttcaatgct tcttatagtt 12661 taaaagagaa agagaccaaa caagttggca ggttgtttgc taagatgact tataaaatga 12721 gggcctgtca agttattgct gagaatttaa ttgcacatgg gattgggaga tatttccatg 12781 aaaacgggat ggttaaggat gagcatgagc tcagcaaatc actgtttcaa ttgtctatat 12841 caggaatacc aagagggaac aaaaacaaca aatcgacgaa cgacacaatc cacgaaagca 12901 agatcgagaa taaccattcc tttaaaaaca tccagaatcg atcatttcga aagacggata 12961 acccatacaa tagatttaac attgataacc caactttctt atccccaaac tgtaacccca 13021 agtataaccg taagaattca gagacaatag gtatattctc tcgtgcagaa accaaaagca 13081 tgattagaga acagaaaagt cacagagaag tcaaaataaa taagctagat atcggcagtg 13141 ataatgaaga gcaaggaaaa gagatagatg ccgccaagta caaaatcacg gacaacccaa 13201 atccacacat aaatcctcaa gatcaacccg gaatctgtca agaagacaaa ggcaaagaag 13261 gagcaaagtc agatctcaca gaaggcatga gttttctgga gatgcacaca ctctttaacc 13321 cgagtaagag cgatatcaga acaaatctcg aattggaaaa gagttcactt tcaaaccctg 13381 gatttatatc acaaaaagag aaaagaggca aaacttataa tgaatcccat tcactgggaa 13441 agttctctaa agaggatgaa gaaagatacg atgtcatcag tgcattcctg acaacagatt 13501 tacgaaaatt ctgcttaaat tggagacatg aatcaatcgg catttttgca agaaggatgg 13561 acgaaatcta tggtttgcct ggtttcttta attggatgca cagaagacta gagcgatctg 13621 tgttatatgt tgcggaccct cattgcccgc cgtctatcaa tgaacatatc gatctaaacg 13681 attcacccga aagagacata tttatacatc atccgaaagg gggtatagaa ggatacagcc 13741 aaaaactgtg gacaatagcg actatccctt ttctattcct cagtgctcat gagacaaaca 13801 cccggatagc ggcagttgta caaggtgaca atcaatcaat tgcaattaca cataaggtcc 13861 accctcattt gccttacaaa atgaagaaag aactctctgc aatgcaggca aaaaaatatt 13921 tttcaaggtt acggcacaac atgaaggcat tagggcatga attgaaggcg accgagacta 13981 tcattagtac tcatttcttc atttattcca agaaaatcca ctatgacggg gctgttttat 14041 cacaatctct gaaatcaatg gcaaggtgtg tattttggtc agaaaccctt gttgatgaaa 14101 ctagagcagc atgcagtaat atcagcacaa caattgcaaa ggctattgag aatggttata 14161 gcaggagatc tggctatctg ataaatgttc ttaaaaccat ccaacaaatt aatatatcat 14221 tgagttttaa tataaatgaa tgcatgacag atgacataat cagaccgttt agagataatc 14281 caaactggat caaacatgcc gcattaatcc ccgccagctt gggaggactc aactatatga 14341 acatgtctcg attgtatgtg aggaatatag gggatccagt cacagcatcg atagcagatg 14401 ttaagagaat gattctcggt ggtgtactac ccattggaat actccacaat atcatgttgc 14461 aagaacccgg tgatgccact tatttggact ggtgtagtga tccatactcc atcaacctaa 14521 agcagactca aagtatcaca aaagttataa agaacataac ggcaagagtg atactaagga 14581 attcggtcaa tccactgctc aaaggtctat ttcatgaagg tgcttatgag gaggacactg 14641 aattagcaac attcattttg gacaggagag tcatcttacc acgagtcggt cacgagatct 14701 taaacaactc catcacagga gcaagagaag agatctcggg cttactggat accacaaaag 14761 gattgataag aattggcata gcaaagggag gattaactca gagaacatta tctcgaattt 14821 ccaattatga ttatgaacaa tttttgaacc taatgaatat gttgaagaac aaagaacaaa 14881 acagtgtcat ttccctgtca gcttgctctg ttgactttgc tatagcttta agaagcagga 14941 tgtggaggaa attggcaaaa ggaagattaa tatatggttt agaagtccct gatccaatag 15001 aagcaatgat tggctttctc attcttggga gtgaaaattg tctactctgt gattcaggaa 15061 gcaaaaacta tacctggttt ttcataccaa aggatgtaca gttggataag attgataaag 15121 atcacgcatc aataagggta ccctatgtcg gatcaactac cgaagaaaga tcagagataa 15181 agttaggatc cgtgaaaaat ccaagcaaat ccctgaaatc tgctataaga ctcgcaactg 15241 tgtacacttg ggcatttggc acaagtgatg ctgaatggtg ggaggcttgg tacttgtcta 15301 atcaacgagc aaatataccc ttagatgttc tcaaaacgat aacacctata tctacttcaa 15361 cgaatattgc tcatagatta cgagaccgat caacacaggt taaatacgcc agtacatctc 15421 ttaacagagt atcgcggcat gtaacaatta gtaacgataa catgaatttt gaatttgacg 15481 gggttaaaat ggataccaac ttgatttatc aacaagtcat gctgttaggg ctttcatgct 15541 tggagagttt attccgaaat aggaaaatga caaatagtta caatatcgtg taccatttac 15601 acgttcaaga acattgttgt gtaaaggctc tgaatgattt accttataca ccgtcaacac 15661 atccagtgcc aaattataca gaagttagag ataataggtt aatttacgat cctcaaccta 15721 tattagaatt tgatgagcta agattagcaa ttcagcaaac aaagaaagta gatttggaat 15781 tttcattgtg ggatacaaaa gaacttcatg agaatttagc tcaaagttta gcgattacag 15841 taacggatat tatgacaaaa tctgataaag atcatattaa agaccaaaga agtatagatg 15901 ttgatgataa tattaagaca ctaataactg agtttttatt agtagaccct gaaatgtttg 15961 ccgtaaattt aggattgcat atatcaataa aatggtcatt tgatattcac tttaaaagac 16021 caagaggacg ctatagcatg atagaatact tgactgatct tttggataat acttcttctc 16081 atgtttatcg aatccttact aatgtattat ctcatcccag agttatgaga aaattcacta 16141 atgccgggct actagtaccg aaatacggtc cctaccttac aagtcaagat ttcaaaaaga 16201 tggcggtaga tttcataata acagcgtata ccacattttt gaccaattgg tgtaataata 16261 acaagttttc aattctaata cctgaacaag accctgatat acttgaatta agaaaagaca 16321 tcactcatgc aaggcattta tgtatgatct cggatcttta ctgctactct ttcaagcaac 16381 cttggataaa ggagcttaca ccacaagaga agatctgcgt catggaggac ttcatagcca 16441 attgtgttgc taatgatcaa acaagtgcgg gctggaacat aacgccctta agagtttaca 16501 atctccctgc atcgaccaca tacatcagga gagggataat aaaacaatta agaatccgtc 16561 aaagcaatga gcctattgat ctggaagata ttaggattgg tcagaacccc gattttgtga 16621 ataaacctat tgagttttgt agcagtgaat tcggtatcac aatttataac cttgaagaaa 16681 ttcttcaatc aaatgtgcat ctcagtgtaa atatgaacat tgactcctca acaagtaaca 16741 atactgaaaa tcatttattt agaagggtag gcttgaactc tacttcatct tataaagcac 16801 tatctttaac acctgttatt aaaagatatc atcaacagaa cactaatagg ctgtttatag 16861 gagaaggatc agggtctatg atgtatcttt accagaaaac cttgggggag acaatatgct 16921 tctttaattc gggagttcag tacaatgagg atctgggtca aagggaacaa tcattatacc 16981 cgagtgaata cagtatctgt gaacaaggag taaaaaaaga aaaccctctc accgggcatg 17041 ttataccact attcaatgga agaccagaaa ccacatgggt aggcaatgat gattctttca 17101 agtatatatt ggaacatact ataaatagag acatcgggct tgttcactcc gatatggaaa 17161 caggaatagg gaaggataat tatactatct taaatgaaca tgcacatctt atagcactga 17221 gccttacagt aatgattgat gatggaatct tggtgtctaa ggtagcttat gcccctgggt 17281 tttgcatctc ttcattattg aatatgtacc ggacattttt ttcattagtt ctatgtgcgt 17341 ttccaccgta tagcaatttt gaatcaactg aattttacct gatttgcttg caaaaaagta 17401 tacccggacc tatcacacca gctagagcca tccaacaaac gacgaagcaa tctagagaag 17461 aggataatag tataactaat aatatcctca aaatcaaaaa tcttgttcag aaagaattta 17521 tcaaaacagt aaagaaaaaa tacgaaatcc atccttcgtt taactgtcct atcaacttca 17581 caaaggatga taaatattta atgagtgttg ggtttcaagc caatggtcct gatatgatac 17641 gtaaagagac gggctatgac ataggtagca atgtagagaa tctccgagat gtcttaatca 17701 agttgtttgc agatgcagtc accttctatg atgatgtcac aaataaaaag aactttttaa 17761 atccttatcc agtctacaca agaactcagt ataaaattct gatggataaa atatgcaaga 17821 aagtcacctt atacacctta atcatatcat gtaaaggatc caatcaatat tgctgggaaa 17881 ttaaatccca aataagaaag cattgtctca tacttgattt gaaaagtaag gtttttacaa 17941 aacttattcc aaagggatta agagaaaggg gtgactcaaa agggatgaag agcatatggt 18001 tcactaaact aaccagtcaa gaggtgaaaa gatggtggaa gatgatatct tacatcgtga 18061 taataagcaa tccataacca catccaactt gtcagttaaa cacttaaatc acaataaact 18121 tgtcatcaga ttaaagaaaa cttataattc ccttttttag gt

The present invention provides for nucleic acids related to the CedPV genome. In particular, the present invention provides for nucleic acids with a polynucleotide sequence at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98% or 99% identical to the polynucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1.

The present invention also provides for fragments of the polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO:1, for example primers and probes.

The present invention also comprises vectors containing any of the nucleic acids disclosed herein. As used herein, a “vector” may be any of a number of nucleic acids into which a desired sequence may be inserted by restriction and ligation for transport between different genetic environments or for expression in a host cell. Vectors are typically composed of DNA although RNA vectors are also available. Vectors include, but are not limited to, plasmids and phagemids. A cloning vector is one which is able to replicate in a host cell, and which is further characterized by one or more endonuclease restriction sites at which the vector may be cut in a determinable fashion and into which a desired DNA sequence may be ligated such that the new recombinant vector retains its ability to replicate in the host cell. In the case of plasmids, replication of the desired: sequence may occur many times as the plasmid increases in copy number within the host bacterium or just a single time per host before the host reproduces by mitosis. In the case of phage, replication may occur actively during a lytic phase or passively during a lysogenic phase. An expression vector is one into which a desired DNA sequence may be inserted by restriction and ligation such that it is operably joined to regulatory sequences and may be expressed as an RNA transcript. Vectors may further contain one or more marker sequences suitable for use in the identification and selection of cells which have been transformed or transfected with the vector. Markers include, for example, genes encoding proteins which increase or decrease either resistance or sensitivity to antibiotics or other compounds, genes which encode enzymes whose activities are detectable by standard assays known in the art (e.g., .beta.-galactosidase or alkaline phosphatase), and genes which visibly affect the phenotype of transformed or transfected cells, hosts, colonies or plaques. Examples of vectors include but are not limited to those capable of autonomous replication and expression of the structural gene products present in the DNA segments to which they are operably joined.

The genomic sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 above codes for the nucleplasmid protein (“N-protein”), the phosphoprotein (“P-protein”), the matrix protein (“M-protein”), the fusion protein (“F-protein”), the glycoprotein protein or attachment protein (“G-protein”) and the large protein (“L-protein”) of CedPV. In addition, the P gene also codes for the C-protein of CedPV. The terms “protein” and “polypeptide” are under interchangeably herein and refer to a polymer of amino acids.

As used herein with respect to polypeptides, the term “substantially pure” means that the polypeptides are essentially free of other substances with which they may be found in nature or in vivo systems to an extent practical and appropriate for their intended use. In particular, the polypeptides are sufficiently pure and are sufficiently free from other biological constituents of their host cells so as to be useful in, for example, generating antibodies, sequencing, or producing pharmaceutical preparations. By techniques well known in the art, substantially pure polypeptides may be produced in light of the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences disclosed herein. Because a substantially purified polypeptide of the invention may be admixed with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier in a pharmaceutical preparation, the polypeptide may comprise only a certain percentage by weight of the preparation. The polypeptide is nonetheless substantially pure in that it has been substantially separated from the substances with which it may be associated in living systems.

As used herein with respect to nucleic acids and proteins, the term “isolated” means not found in its native environment and includes but is not limited to such settings: (i) being amplified in vitro by, for example, polymerase chain reaction (PCR); (ii) being recombinantly produced by cloning and/or culturing; (iii) being purified, as by cleavage and gel separation; (iv) being part of a prepared plasmid or expression vector, or (v) synthesized by, for example, chemical synthesis. An isolated nucleic acid is one which is readily manipulable by recombinant DNA techniques well known in the art. Thus, a nucleotide sequence contained in a vector in which 5′ and 3′ restriction sites are known or for which polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sequences have been disclosed is considered isolated but a nucleic acid sequence existing in its native state in its natural host is not. An isolated nucleic acid or protein may be substantially purified, but need not be. For example, a nucleic acid that is isolated within a cloning or expression vector is not pure in that it may comprise only a tiny percentage of the material in the cell in which it resides. Such a nucleic acid is isolated, however, as the term is used herein because it is readily manipulable by standard techniques known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Referring to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 above, the coding sequence for the N-protein begins at position 144 and ends at 1676, resulting in a polypeptide of 510 amino acids long as disclosed in SEQ ID NO:2. The present invention thus provides for nucleic acids that code for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2. In addition, the present invention also provides for nucleic acids with a polynucleotide sequence that is at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polynucleotide sequence of positions 144-1673 of SEQ ID NO:1.

The invention also provides for polypeptides, derivatives and fragments of the CedPV N-protein. Specifically, the present invention provides for polypeptides at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2. As used herein, a “derivative” of a reference polypeptide is a polypeptide that has less than 100% amino acid identity with the reference polypeptide. For example, the invention provides for derivatives of the CedPV N-protein as described herein. The invention also provides for polypeptides comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.

The invention also provides for fragments of the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:2. As used herein, a fragment of the reference polypeptide is a polypeptide with a length that is less that that of the reference polypeptide. The fragment may be within a larger molecule, such as a chimeric protein, such that the total length of the molecule containing the fragment is larger than the reference protein. The polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:2 can be fragments of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 205, 210, 215, 220, 225, 230, 235, 240, 245, 250, 255, 260, 265, 270, 275, 280, 285, 290, 295, 300, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325, 330, 335, 340, 345, 350, 355, 360, 365, 370, 375, 380, 385, 390, 395, 400, 405, 410, 415, 420, 425, 430, 435, 440, 445, 450, 455, 460, 465, 470, 475, 480, 485, 490, 495, 500, 505, 506, 507, 508 or 509 amino acids in length. As used herein, the length of fragments disclosed above are also used to indicate a polypeptide having a number of amino acids within a certain range. For example, as used herein, a “polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:2 can be fragment of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30 . . . amino acids in length” is used to mean that the fragments can be between 15 and 20 amino acids in length, and that the fragments can be between 20 and 25 amino acids in length, etc. One of skill in the art will recognize that a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:2 that is, for example, “at least about . . . 440, 445 . . . amino acids in length” will include polypeptide fragments that are between 440 and 445 amino acids in length.

(SEQ ID NO: 2) MSDIFNETQS FRNYQSNLGR DGRASAATTT LTTKVRIFVP ANNNPNLRWR LTLFLMDVVR SPASAESMKV GAGISLVSMY AEKPGALVRA LLNDPDVEAI IIDVYGFDEG IPIMERRGDK ATDDMDSLRK IVKAAHDFSR GRSLFVDQRV QDIVMSDMGS FVNAITSIET QIWILIAKAV TAPDTAEESE GRRWAKYVQQ KRVNPLFLIS PQWINDMRSL IAASLSLRKF MVELLMEAKK GRGTKGRIME IVSDIGNYVE ETGMAGFFAT IKFGLETKFP ALALNELQSD LNTMKSLMIL YRSIGPKAPF MVLLEDSIQT KFAPGSYPLL WSFAMGVGTT IDRAMGALNI NRSYLEPVYF RLGQQSAKHQ AGNVDKEMAE KLGLTEDQIV HLSANVKDAS QGRDDNQINI REGKFTNVVD DIQDHAQSSS EDYNPSKKSF SILTSITSTV DSADSRSAMN ESMTTTSLLK LRQRLAEKKG DSKNSQDTPP KPPRAKDQPT DEVSFMDSNI

Referring to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 above, the coding sequence for the P-protein begins at position 2112 and ends at 4325, resulting in a polypeptide of 737 amino acids long as disclosed in SEQ ID NO:3. The present invention thus provides for nucleic acids that code for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3. In addition, the present invention also provides for nucleic acids with a polynucleotide sequence that is at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polynucleotide sequence of positions 2112-4325 of SEQ ID NO:1.

The invention also provides for nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, derivatives and fragments of the CedPV P-protein. Specifically, the present invention provides for polypeptides at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:3. The invention also provides for polypeptides comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.

The polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:3 can be fragments of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 205, 210, 215, 220, 225, 230, 235, 240, 245, 250, 255, 260, 265, 270, 275, 280, 285, 290, 295, 300, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325, 330, 335, 340, 345, 350, 355, 360, 365, 370, 375, 380, 385, 390, 395, 400, 405, 410, 415, 420, 425, 430, 435, 440, 445, 450, 455, 460, 465, 470, 475, 480, 485, 490, 495, 500, 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, 540, 545, 550, 555, 560, 565, 570, 575, 580, 585, 590, 595, 600, 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630, 635, 640, 645, 650, 655, 660, 665, 670, 675, 680, 685, 690, 695, 700, 705, 710, 715, 720, 725, 730, 731, 732, 733, 734, 735 or 736 amino acids in length. As used herein, the length of fragments disclosed above are also used to indicate a polypeptide having a number of amino acids within a certain range. For example, as used herein, a “polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:3 can be fragment of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30 . . . amino acids in length” is used to mean that the fragments can be between 15 and 20 amino acids in length, and that the fragments can be between 20 and 25 amino acids in length, etc. One of skill in the art will recognize that a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:3 that is, for example, “at least about . . . 720, 725 . . . amino acids in length” will include polypeptide fragments that are between 720 and 725 amino acids in length.

(SEQ ID NO: 3) MDKLQLIEDG LSTINFIQEN KEKLQHSYGR SSIREPPTSV RVEEWEKFIR KIASGPEQVQ GGGSETEITG DNGDRGNFTN PDQGGGVTGQ FEERYQKWGS QDSELQLDPM VVHDFFYDER RENPDNGKYD RSSKKRDNIR EGTRQDKYNN QSTDELLSCL QPSSKNDVIK NESTSVSNLH VTGNKLNPDA KPFEPTSQSK EHPTTTQHNK NDHQTDDDYK NRRSSENNVI SDHATTMEDN NNFIPATKRK NALSEPIYVQ VLPSNTEGFS GKDYPLLKDN SVKKRAEPVI LETANHPAGS ADQDTNQIEE NMQFNLPKLL TEDTDDEPED NNDSMPLEED IREIGSMLKD GTKDIKTRMN EIDDAIKKIN KKSKNRSLDL ESDGKDQGRR DPSVDLGIKK RKEGLKAAMQ KTKEQLSIKV EREIGLNDRI CQNSKMSTEK KLIYAGMEME YGQTSTGSGG PQGSKDGTSD DVQVDEDYDE GEDYEAMPSD RFYTTLSGEQ KDRFDLDANQ MSQYDLEAQV DELTRMNLIL YSRLETTNKL LIDILDLAKE MPKLVRKVDN LERQMGNLNM LTSTLEGHLS SVMIMIPGKD KSEKEIPKNP DLRPILGRSN TSLTDVIDLD HYPDKGSKGI KPSGSGDRQY IGSLESKFSI NDEYNFAPYP IRDELLLPGL RDDKTNASSF IPDDTDRSPM VLKIIIRQNI HDEEVKDELL SILEQHNTVE ELNEIWNTVN DYLDGNI

The coding sequence for the C-protein is within the P-protein coding sequence and begins at position 2137 (of SEQ ID NO:1) and ends at position 2670, resulting in a polypeptide of 177 amino acids long as disclosed in SEQ ID NO:4. The present invention thus provides for nucleic acids that code for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4. In addition, the present invention also provides for nucleic acids with a polynucleotide sequence that is at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polynucleotide sequence of positions 2137-2670 of SEQ ID NO:1.

The invention also provides for nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, derivatives and fragments of the CedPV C-protein. Specifically, the present invention provides for polypeptides at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:4. The invention also provides for polypeptides comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.

The polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:4 can be fragments of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 166, 167m 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175 or 176 amino acids in length. As used herein, the length of fragments disclosed above are also used to indicate a polypeptide having a number of amino acids within a certain range. For example, as used herein, a “polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:4 can be fragment of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30 . . . amino acids in length” is used to mean that the fragments can be between 15 and 20 amino acids in length, and that the fragments can be between 20 and 25 amino acids in length, etc. One of skill in the art will recognize that a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:4 that is, for example, “at least about . . . 140, 145 . . . amino acids in length” will include polypeptide fragments that are between 140 and 145 amino acids in length.

(SEQ ID NO: 4) MASLLSILYR KIRKNYSILT EDPPSESHPQ VSGLKSGRNL FERSLLDLNK FKGEDLRLRS QAIMEIEAIL PILIREAESQ DNSKKGIKNG GHKIQNYNWT QWLYTISSMT REGRIPTMEN MTAALKNGII SEKEHDRIST IISLLMNYCP AYNHLLRTMS SRMKVHQCQI CMLQEIN

Referring to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 above, the coding sequence for the M-protein begins at position 4635 and ends at 5717, resulting in a polypeptide of 360 amino acids long as disclosed in SEQ ID NO:5. The present invention thus provides for nucleic acids that code for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5. In addition, the present invention also provides for nucleic acids with a polynucleotide sequence that is at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polynucleotide sequence of positions 4635-5717 of SEQ ID NO:1.

The invention also provides for nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, derivatives and fragments of the CedPV M-protein. Specifically, the present invention provides for polypeptides at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:5. The invention also provides for polypeptides comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5.

The polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:5 can be fragments of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 205, 210, 215, 220, 225, 230, 235, 240, 245, 250, 255, 260, 265, 270, 275, 280, 285, 290, 295, 300, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325, 330, 335, 340, 345, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358 or 359 amino acids in length. As used herein, the length of fragments disclosed above are also used to indicate a polypeptide having a number of amino acids within a certain range. For example, as used herein, a “polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:5 can be fragment of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30 . . . amino acids in length” is used to mean that the fragments can be between 15 and 20 amino acids in length, and that the fragments can be between 20 and 25 amino acids in length, etc. One of skill in the art will recognize that a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:5 that is, for example, “at least about . . . 280, 285 . . . amino acids in length” will include polypeptide fragments that are between 280 and 285 amino acids in length.

(SEQ ID NO: 5) MDPSDLRRII MEDDKSLVNN DDSTETDFLE KTWREGSKID KITPEVDENG NMVPKYVVFN PGKNERKTSG YQYMICYGFI EDGPINGSPR VKGNIRTTAS FPLGVGKTYS SPEEILQELT TLKITVRRTA GSNEKLVYGI TGPLNHLYPW YKVLTGGSIF SAVKVCRNVD QILLDRPQIL RVFFLSITKL TDKGVYMIPK SVLDFRSDNS MAFNLLVYLK IDTDITKAGI RGIVNKEGER ITSFMLHIGN FTRRGGKHYS VEYCKRKIDK MKLTFALGTI GGLSLHIRID GRISKRLQAQ VGFQRNICYS LMDTNPWLNK LTWNNSCEIH KVTAVIQPSV PKDFMLYEDI LIDNTGKILK

Referring to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 above, the coding sequence for the F-protein begins at position 6405 and ends at 8078, resulting in a polypeptide of 557 amino acids long as disclosed in SEQ ID NO:6. The present invention thus provides for nucleic acids that code for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6. In addition, the present invention also provides for nucleic acids with a polynucleotide sequence that is at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polynucleotide sequence of positions 6405-8078 of SEQ ID NO:1.

The invention also provides for nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, derivatives and fragments of the CedPV F-protein. Specifically, the present invention provides for polypeptides at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:6. The invention also provides for polypeptides comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.

The polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:6 can be fragments of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 205, 210, 215, 220, 225, 230, 235, 240, 245, 250, 255, 260, 265, 270, 275, 280, 285, 290, 295, 300, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325, 330, 335, 340, 345, 350, 355, 360, 365, 370, 375, 380, 385, 390, 395, 400, 405, 410, 415, 420, 425, 430, 435, 440, 445, 450, 455, 460, 465, 470, 475, 480, 485, 490, 495, 500, 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, 540, 545, 546, 547, 548, 549, 550, 551, 552, 553, 554, 555 or 556 amino acids in length. As used herein, the length of fragments disclosed above are also used to indicate a polypeptide having a number of amino acids within a certain range. For example, as used herein, a “polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:6 can be fragment of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30 . . . amino acids in length” is used to mean that the fragments can be between 15 and 20 amino acids in length, and that the fragments can be between 20 and 25 amino acids in length, etc. One of skill in the art will recognize that a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:6 that is, for example, “at least about . . . 515, 520 . . . amino acids in length” will include polypeptide fragments that are between 515 and 520 amino acids in length.

(SEQ ID NO: 6) MSNKRITVLI IISYTLFYLN NAAIVGFDFD KLNKIGVVQG RVLNYKIKGD PMTKDLVLKF IPNIVNITEC VREPLSRYNE TVRRLLLPIH NMLGLYLNNT NAKMTGLMIA GVIMGGIAIG IATAAQITAG FALYEAKKNT ENIQKLTDSI MKTQDSIDKL TDSVGISILI LNKLQTYINN QLVPNLELLS CRQNKIEFDL MLTKYLVDLM TVIGPNINNP VNKDMTIQSL SLLFDGNYDI MMSELGYTPQ DFLDLIESKS ITGQIIYVDM ENLYVVIRTY LPTLIEVPDA QIYEFNKITM SSNGGEYLST IPNFILIRGN YMSNIDVATC YMTKASVICN QDYSLPMSQN LRSCYQGETE YCPVEAVIAS HSPRFALTNG VIFANCINTI CRCQDNGKTI TQNINQFVSM IDNSTCNDVM VDKFTIKVGK YMGRKDINNI NIQIGPQIII DKVDLSNEIN KMNQSLKDSI FYLREAKRIL DSVNISLISP SVQLFLIIIS VLSFIILLII IVYLYCKSKH SYKYNKFIDD PDYYNDYKRE RINGKASKSN NIYYVGD

One example of a fragment of an F protein is a soluble CedPV F glycoprotein comprising all or part of the extracellular domain of F glycoprotein of CedPV. The soluble forms of F glycoprotein may be produced by deleting all or part of the transmembrane and/or cytoplasmic tail domains of the F glycoprotein. By way of example, a soluble F glycoprotein may comprise the complete extracellular region of a CePV F glycoprotein. In some embodiments, the soluble F glycoprotein may be truncated at after K490 in SEQ ID NO:6 Also, by way of example, a soluble F glycoprotein may comprise all or part of the extracellular region and part of the transmembrane domain of a CedPV F glycoprotein. By way of further example, several versions of a soluble F (sF) glycoprotein can be constructed, primarily through removing the cytoplasmic tail and/or transmembrane domain that anchor the protein. As used herein, “soluble F glycoprotein” or “soluble form of F glycoprotein” or “sF glycoprotein” refers to an amino acid sequence for a fragment or portion of native F glycoprotein that contains the extracellular domain or a portion thereof. The sF glycoprotein is structurally similar to the native viral F glycoprotein.

The sF glycoproteins of the invention are structurally similar to the native viral F glycoprotein. By way of example, the sF glycoproteins of the invention may be recognized by polyclonal antibodies directed to CedPV. By way of example, the sF glycoproteins of the invention may assemble in the oligomeric form or forms (such as a trimer), comparable to native CedPV F glycoprotein.

The sF or sG glycoproteins of the present invention are suitable, for example, for vaccine development and for acting as an antigen to generate anti-viral antibodies when used as a vaccine or in the isolation of recombinant monoclonal antibodies. The sF or sG glycoproteins are suitable to generate antibodies capable of recognizing native F or G glycoprotein. The sF or sG glycoproteins of the present invention that assemble in monomeric or oligomeric forms, such as trimers, can be of further use, such as, for example, for crystallization and structural determination to provide further information to aid structural-based antiviral research. The oligomeric forms of sF or sG glycoprotein of the present invention may also generate further antibodies capable of recognizing native F or G glycoprotein and its native oligomeric forms. The term “soluble” has no bearing on the protein's ability to dissolve in an aqueous or non-aqueous solvent.

Referring to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 above, the coding sequence for the G-protein begins at position 8268 and ends at 10136, resulting in a polypeptide of 622 amino acids long as disclosed in SEQ ID NO:7. The present invention thus provides for nucleic acids that code for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7. In addition, the present invention also provides for nucleic acids with a polynucleotide sequence that is at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polynucleotide sequence of positions 8268-10136 of SEQ ID NO:1.

The invention also provides for nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, derivatives and fragments of the CedPV G-protein. Specifically, the present invention provides for polypeptides at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:7. The invention also provides for polypeptides comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7.

The polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:7 can be fragments of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 205, 210, 215, 220, 225, 230, 235, 240, 245, 250, 255, 260, 265, 270, 275, 280, 285, 290, 295, 300, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325, 330, 335, 340, 345, 350, 355, 360, 365, 370, 375, 380, 385, 390, 395, 400, 405, 410, 415, 420, 425, 430, 435, 440, 445, 450, 455, 460, 465, 470, 475, 480, 485, 490, 495, 500, 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, 540, 545, 550, 555, 560, 565, 570, 575, 580, 585, 590, 595, 600, 605, 610, 612, 613, 614, 615, 616, 617, 618, 619, 620 or 621 amino acids in length. As used herein, the length of fragments disclosed above are also used to indicate a polypeptide having a number of amino acids within a certain range. For example, as used herein, a “polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:7 can be fragment of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30 . . . amino acids in length” is used to mean that the fragments can be between 15 and 20 amino acids in length, and that the fragments can be between 20 and 25 amino acids in length, etc. One of skill in the art will recognize that a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:7 that is, for example, “at least about . . . 300, 305 . . . amino acids in length” will include polypeptide fragments that are between 300 and 305 amino acids in length.

(SEQ ID NO: 7) MLSQLQKNYL DNSNQQGDKM NNPDKKLSVN FNPLELDKGQ KDLNKSYYVK NKNYNVSNLL NESLHDIKFC IYCIFSLLII ITIINIITIS IVITRLKVHE ENNGMESPNL QSIQDSLSSL TNMINTEITP RIGILVTATS VTLSSSINYV GTKTNQLVNE LKDYITKSCG FKVPELKLHE CNISCADPKI SKSAMYSTNA YAELAGPPKI FCKSVSKDPD FRLKQIDYVI PVQQDRSICM NNPLLDISDG FFTYIHYEGI NSCKKSDSFK VLLSHGEIVD RGDYRPSLYL LSSHYHPYSM QVINCVPVTC NQSSFVFCHI SNNTKTLDNS DYSSDEYYIT YFNGIDRPKT KKIPINNMTA DNRYIHFTFS GGGGVCLGEE FIIPVTTVIN TDVFTHDYCE SFNCSVQTGK SLKEICSESL RSPTNSSRYN LNGIMIISQN NMTDFKIQLN GITYNKLSFG SPGRLSKTLG QVLYYQSSMS WDTYLKAGFV EKWKPFTPNW MNNTVISRPN QGNCPRYHKC PEICYGGTYN DIAPLDLGKD MYVSVILDSD QLAENPEITV FNSTTILYKE RVSKDELNTR STTTSCFLFL DEPWCISVLE TNRFNGKSIR PEIYSYKIPK YC

Examples of fragments of G proteins CedPV include soluble forms of CedPV G-protein that retain characteristics of the native viral G glycoprotein allowing for rapid high throughput production of vaccines, diagnostics and screening.

Soluble forms of CedPV G glycoproteins comprise at least a portion of the ectodomain (e.g. extracellular) of the G glycoprotein. In select embodiments, CedPV are generally produced by deleting all or part of the transmembrane domain of the G glycoprotein and all or part of the cytoplasmic tail of the G glycoprotein. In one embodiment, the soluble G protein of CedPV does not comprise any portion of the cytoplasm region of the full length G protein. In another embodiment, the soluble G protein of CedPV does not comprise any portion of the transmembrane domain. In yet another embodiment, the soluble G protein of CedPV comprises no portion of the transmembrane domain and the cytoplasmic domain. As used herein, the term “soluble” simply means that the G protein is missing a portion or all of its cytoplasmic tail or that the G protein is missing all or part of its transmembrane domain, or both. In some embodiments, the soluble G glycoprotein is truncated after K87 in SEQ ID NO:7. The term “soluble” has no bearing on the protein's ability to dissolve in an aqueous or non-aqueous solvent.

The soluble CedPV G glycoproteins of the invention, generally retain one or more characteristics of the corresponding native viral glycoprotein, such as, ability to interact or bind the viral host cell receptor, can be produced in monomeric and/or oligomeric form or forms, or the ability to elicit antibodies (including, but not limited to, viral neutralizing antibodies) capable of recognizing native G glycoprotein. Examples of additional characteristics include, but are not limited to, the ability to block or prevent infection of a host cell. Conventional methodology may be utilized to evaluate soluble CedPV G glycoproteins for one of more of the characteristics. Examples of methodology that may be used include, but are not limited to, the assays described herein in the Examples.

Referring to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 above, the coding sequence for the L-protein begins at position 10572 and ends at 18077, resulting in a polypeptide of 2501 amino acids long as disclosed in SEQ ID NO:8. The present invention thus provides for nucleic acids that code for the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8. In addition, the present invention also provides for nucleic acids with a polynucleotide sequence that is at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polynucleotide sequence of positions 10572-18077 of SEQ ID NO:1.

The invention also provides for nucleic acid molecules encoding the polypeptides, derivatives and fragments of the CedPV L-protein. Specifically, the present invention provides for polypeptides at least about 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99% or 100% identical to the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO:8. The invention also provides for polypeptides comprising or consisting of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8.

The polypeptide fragments of SEQ ID NO:8 can be fragments of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, 115, 120, 125, 130, 135, 140, 145, 150, 155, 160, 165, 170, 175, 180, 185, 190, 195, 200, 205, 210, 215, 220, 225, 230, 235, 240, 245, 250, 255, 260, 265, 270, 275, 280, 285, 290, 295, 300, 305, 310, 315, 320, 325, 330, 335, 340, 345, 350, 355, 360, 365, 370, 375, 380, 385, 390, 395, 400, 405, 410, 415, 420, 425, 430, 435, 440, 445, 450, 455, 460, 465, 470, 475, 480, 485, 490, 495, 500, 505, 510, 515, 520, 525, 530, 535, 540, 545, 550, 555, 560, 565, 570, 575, 580, 585, 590, 595, 600, 605, 610, 615, 620, 625, 630, 635, 640, 645, 650, 655, 660, 665, 670, 675, 680, 685, 690, 695, 700, 705, 710, 715, 720, 725, 730, 735, 740, 745, 750, 755, 760, 765, 770, 775, 780, 785, 790, 795, 800, 805, 810, 815, 820, 825, 830, 835, 840, 845, 850, 855, 860, 865, 870, 875, 880, 885, 890, 895, 900, 905, 910, 915, 920, 925, 930, 935, 940, 945, 950, 955, 960, 965, 970, 975, 980, 985, 990, 995, 1000, 1005, 1010, 1015, 1020, 1025, 1030, 1035, 1040, 1045, 1050, 1055, 1060, 1065, 1070, 1075, 1080, 1085, 1090, 1095, 1100, 1105, 1110, 1115, 1120, 1125, 1130, 1135, 1140, 1145, 1150, 1155, 1160, 1165, 1170, 1175, 1180, 1185, 1190, 1195, 1200, 1205, 1210, 1215, 1220, 1225, 1230, 1235, 1240, 1245, 1250, 1255, 1260, 1265, 1270, 1275, 1280, 1285, 1290, 1295, 1300, 1305, 1310, 1315, 1320, 1325, 1330, 1335, 1340, 1345, 1350, 1355, 1360, 1365, 1370, 1375, 1380, 1385, 1390, 1395, 1400, 1405, 1410, 1415, 1420, 1425, 1430, 1435, 1440, 1445, 1450, 1455, 1460, 1465, 1470, 1475, 1480, 1485, 1490, 1495, 1500, 1505, 1510, 1515, 1520, 1525, 1530, 1535, 1540, 1545, 1550, 1555, 1560, 1565, 1570, 1575, 1580, 1585, 1590, 1595, 1600, 1605, 1610, 1615, 1620, 1625, 1630, 1635, 1640, 1645, 1650, 1655, 1660, 1665, 1670, 1675, 1680, 1685, 1690, 1695, 1700, 1705, 1710, 1715, 1720, 1725, 1730, 1735, 1740, 1745, 1750, 1755, 1760, 1765, 1770, 1775, 1780, 1785, 1790, 1795, 1800, 1805, 1810, 1815, 1820, 1825, 1830, 1835, 1840, 1845, 1850, 1855, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, 1915, 1920, 1925, 1930, 1935, 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2025, 2030, 2035, 2040, 2045, 2050, 2055, 2060, 2065, 2070, 2075, 2080, 2085, 2090, 2095, 2100, 2105, 2110, 2115, 2120, 2125, 2130, 2135, 2140, 2145, 2150, 2155, 2160, 2165, 2170, 2175, 2180, 2185, 2190, 2195, 2200, 2205, 2210, 2215, 2220, 2225, 2230, 2235, 2240, 2245, 2250, 2255, 2260, 2265, 2270, 2275, 2280, 2285, 2290, 2295, 2300, 2305, 2310, 2315, 2320, 2325, 2330, 2335, 2340, 2345, 2350, 2355, 2360, 2365, 2370, 2375, 2380, 2385, 2390, 2395, 2400, 2405, 2410, 2415, 2420, 2425, 2430, 2435, 2440, 2445, 2450, 2455, 2460, 2465, 2470, 2475, 2480, 2485, 2490, 2491, 2492, 2593, 2494, 2495, 2496, 2497, 2498, 2499 or 2500 amino acids in length. As used herein, the length of fragments disclosed above are also used to indicate a polypeptide having a number of amino acids within a certain range. For example, as used herein, a “polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:8 can be fragment of at least about 15, 20, 25, 30 . . . amino acids in length” is used to mean that the fragments can be between 15 and 20 amino acids in length, and that the fragments can be between 20 and 25 amino acids in length, etc. One of skill in the art will recognize that a polypeptide fragment of SEQ ID NO:8 that is, for example, “at least about . . . 2050, 2055 . . . amino acids in length” will include polypeptide fragments that are between 2050 and 2055 amino acids in length.

(SEQ ID NO: 8) MESDFDISVS DVLYPECHLD SPIVGGKLIT SLEYANLTHN QPHEDQTLLT NINVNKKKKI KSPLISQQSL FGNEVNKEIF DLKNYYHVPY PECNRDLFLI SDDKIAFKLS KIMDNSNKLF DGLERKLSRL ISNVDNQLLN ATSLHNNSEM DRKGKEHPCF PEKSTIDDVR QQRQTRDFPK NSTREGRSPK HPDAGPTPEN SAKNDLHRDN TDNMPTGHSS TSMKKPKISG EEYLSMWLDS EDLGSKRISA QLGKDVSCKG HLHTTEDKPI IVPDTRYIQN HESNNDIFPK KEKKFCKLPP SSDNLTKIMV NSKWYNPFLF WFTVKTELRA CQKENYKRKN RKLGIITSIK GSCYKLILNQ NLVAIFEEDS SGYSDHKKRK KRCYYLTPEM VLMFSDVTEG RLMIDVAMRF DKKYKTLEKK ALKLWFLIDE LFPSMGNRVY NIISMLEPLT LAILQVKDES RLLRGAFMHH CLGDLFEELR ESKNYPEDEI KRFANDLINV MTCRDIHLVA EFFSFFRTFG HPILNAQTAA RKVREYMLAD KILEYEPIMK GHAIFCAIII NGFRDRHGGV WPPLDLPKHC SKNIISLKNT GEGVTYEVAI NNWRSFVGLK FKCFMGLNLD NDLSMYMKDK ALSPLRDLWD SIYSREVMSY QPPRNKKSRR LVEVFVDDQD FDPVDMINYV LTGEYLRDDD FNASYSLKEK ETKQVGRLFA KMTYKMRACQ VIAENLIAHG IGRYFHENGM VKDEHELSKS LFQLSISGIP RGNKNNKSTN DTIHESKIEN NHSFKNIQNR SFRKTDNPYN RFNIDNPTFL SPNCNPKYNR KNSETIGIFS RAETKSMIRE QKSHREVKIN KLDIGSDNEE QGKEIDAAKY KITDNPNPHI NPQDQPGICQ EDKGKEGAKS DLTEGMSFLE MHTLFNPSKS DIRTNLELEK SSLSNPGFIS QKEKRGKTYN ESHSLGKFSK EDEERYDVIS AFLTTDLRKF CLNWRHESIG IFARRMDEIY GLPGFFNWMH RRLERSVLYV ADPHCPPSIN EHIDLNDSPE RDIFIHHPKG GIEGYSQKLW TIATIPFLFL SAHETNTRIA AVVQGDNQSI AITHKVHPHL PYKMKKELSA MQAKKYFSRL RHNMKALGHE LKATETIIST HFFIYSKKIH YDGAVLSQSL KSMARCVFWS ETLVDETRAA CSNISTTIAK AIENGYSRRS GYLINVLKTI QQINISLSFN INECMTDDII RPFRDNPNWI KHAALIPASL GGLNYMNMSR LYVRNIGDPV TASIADVKRM ILGGVLPIGI LHNIMLQEPG DATYLDWCSD PYSINLKQTQ SITKVIKNIT ARVILRNSVN PLLKGLFHEG AYEEDTELAT FILDRRVILP RVGHEILNNS ITGAREEISG LLDTTKGLIR IGIAKGGLTQ RTLSRISNYD YEQFLNLMNM LKNKEQNSVI SLSACSVDFA IALRSRMWRK LAKGRLIYGL EVPDPIEAMI GFLILGSENC LLCDSGSKNY TWFFIPKDVQ LDKIDKDHAS IRVPYVGSTT EERSEIKLGS VKNPSKSLKS AIRLATVYTW AFGTSDAEWW EAWYLSNQRA NIPLDVLKTI TPISTSTNIA HRLRDRSTQV KYASTSLNRV SRHVTISNDN MNFEFDGVKM DTNLIYQQVM LLGLSCLESL FRNRKMTNSY NIVYHLHVQE HCCVKALNDL PYTPSTHPVP NYTEVRDNRL IYDPQPILEF DELRLAIQQT KKVDLEFSLW DTKELHENLA QSLAITVTDI MTKSDKDHIK DQRSIDVDDN IKTLITEFLL VDPEMFAVNL GLHISIKWSF DIHFKRPRGR YSMIEYLTDL LDNTSSHVYR ILTNVLSHPR VMRKFTNAGL LVPKYGPYLT SQDFKKMAVD FIITAYTTFL TNWCNNNKFS ILIPEQDPDI LELRKDITHA RHLCMISDLY CYSFKQPWIK ELTPQEKICV MEDFIANCVA NDQTSAGWNI TPLRVYNLPA STTYIRRGII KQLRIRQSNE PIDLEDIRIG QNPDFVNKPI EFCSSEFGIT IYNLEEILQS NVHLSVNMNI DSSTSNNTEN HLFRRVGLNS TSSYKALSLT PVIKRYHQQN TNRLFIGEGS GSMMYLYQKT LGETICFFNS GVQYNEDLGQ REQSLYPSEY SICEQGVKKE NPLTGHVIPL FNGRPETTWV GNDDSFKYIL EHTINRDIGL VHSDMETGIG KDNYTILNEH AHLIALSLTV MIDDGILVSK VAYAPGFCIS SLLNMYRTFF SLVLCAFPPY SNFESTEFYL ICLQKSIPGP ITPARAIQQT TKQSREEDNS ITNNILKIKN LVQKEFIKTV KKKYEIHPSF NCPINFTKDD KYLMSVGFQA NGPDMIRKET GYDIGSNVEN LRDVLIKLFA DAVTFYDDVT NKKNFLNPYP VYTRTQYKIL MDKICKKVTL YTLIISCKGS NQYCWEIKSQ IRKHCLILDL KSKVFTKLIP KGLRERGDSK GMKSIWFTKL TSQEVKRWWK MISYIVIISN P

A polypeptide having an amino acid sequence at least, for example, about 95% “identical” to a reference an amino acid sequence, e.g., SEQ ID NO:7, is understood to mean that the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide is identical to the reference sequence except that the amino acid sequence may include up to about five modifications per each 100 amino acids of the reference amino acid sequence. In other words, to obtain a peptide having an amino acid sequence at least about 95% identical to a reference amino acid sequence, up to about 5% of the amino acid residues of the reference sequence may be deleted or substituted with another amino acid or a number of amino acids up to about 5% of the total amino acids in the reference sequence may be inserted into the reference sequence. These modifications of the reference sequence may occur at the N-terminus or C-terminus positions of the reference amino acid sequence or anywhere between those terminal positions, interspersed either individually among amino acids in the reference sequence or in one or more contiguous groups within the reference sequence.

As used herein, “identity” is a measure of the identity of nucleotide sequences or amino acid sequences compared to a reference nucleotide or amino acid sequence. In general, the sequences are aligned so that the highest order match is obtained. “Identity” per se has an art-recognized meaning and can be calculated using published techniques. (See, e.g., Computational Molecular Biology, Lesk, A. M., ed., Oxford University Press, New York (1988); Biocomputing: Informatics And Genome Projects, Smith, D. W., ed., Academic Press, New York (1993); Computer Analysis of Sequence Data, Part I, Griffin, A. M., and Griffin, H. G., eds., Humana Press, New Jersey (1994); von Heinje, G., Sequence Analysis In Molecular Biology, Academic Press (1987); and Sequence Analysis Primer, Gribskov, M. and Devereux, J., eds., M Stockton Press, New York (1991)). While there are several methods to measure identity between two polynucleotide or polypeptide sequences, the term “identity” is well known to skilled artisans (Carillo, H. & Lipton, D., Siam J Applied Math 48:1073 (1988)). Methods commonly employed to determine identity or similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, those disclosed in Guide to Huge Computers, Martin J. Bishop, ed., Academic Press, San Diego (1994) and Carillo, H. & Lipton, D., Siam J Applied Math 48:1073 (1988). Computer programs may also contain methods and algorithms that calculate identity and similarity. Examples of computer program methods to determine identity and similarity between two sequences include, but are not limited to, GCG program package (Devereux, J., et al., Nucleic Acids Research 12(i):387 (1984)), BLASTP, ExPASy, BLASTN, FASTA (Atschul, S. F., et al., J Molec Biol 215:403 (1990)) and FASTDB. Examples of methods to determine identity and similarity are discussed in Michaels, G. and Garian, R., Current Protocols in Protein Science, Vol 1, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (2000), which is incorporated by reference.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the algorithm used to determine identity between two or more polypeptides is BLASTP. In another embodiment of the present invention, the algorithm used to determine identity between two or more polypeptides is FASTDB, which is based upon the algorithm of Brutlag et al. (Comp. App. Biosci. 6:237-245 (1990), incorporated by reference). In a FASTDB sequence alignment, the query and reference sequences are amino sequences. The result of sequence alignment is in percent identity. In one embodiment, parameters that may be used in a FASTDB alignment of amino acid sequences to calculate percent identity include, but are not limited to: Matrix=PAM, k-tuple=2, Mismatch Penalty=1, Joining Penalty=20, Randomization Group Length=0, Cutoff Score=1, Gap Penalty=5, Gap Size Penalty 0.05, Window Size=500 or the length of the subject amino sequence, whichever is shorter.

If the reference sequence is shorter or longer than the query sequence because of N-terminus or C-terminus additions or deletions, but not because of internal additions or deletions, a manual correction can be made, because the FASTDB program does not account for N-terminus and C-terminus truncations or additions of the reference sequence when calculating percent identity. For query sequences truncated at the N- or C-termini, relative to the reference sequence, the percent identity is corrected by calculating the number of residues of the query sequence that are N- and C-terminus to the reference sequence that are not matched/aligned, as a percent of the total bases of the query sequence. The results of the FASTDB sequence alignment determine matching/alignment. The alignment percentage is then subtracted from the percent identity, calculated by the above FASTDB program using the specified parameters, to arrive at a final percent identity score. This corrected score can be used for the purposes of determining how alignments “correspond” to each other, as well as percentage identity. Residues of the reference sequence that extend past the N- or C-termini of the query sequence may be considered for the purposes of manually adjusting the percent identity score. That is, residues that are not matched/aligned with the N- or C-termini of the comparison sequence may be counted when manually adjusting the percent identity score or alignment numbering.

For example, a 90 amino acid residue query sequence is aligned with a 100 residue reference sequence to determine percent identity. The deletion occurs at the N-terminus of the query sequence and therefore, the FASTDB alignment does not show a match/alignment of the first 10 residues at the N-terminus. The 10 unpaired residues represent 10% of the reference sequence (number of residues at the N- and C-termini not matched/total number of residues in the reference sequence) so 10% is subtracted from the percent identity score calculated by the FASTDB program. If the remaining 90 residues were perfectly matched (100% alignment) the final percent identity would be 90% (100% alignment—10% unmatched overhang). In another example, a 90 residue query sequence is compared with a 100 reference sequence, except that the deletions are internal deletions. In this case the percent identity calculated by FASTDB is not manually corrected, since there are no residues at the N- or C-termini of the subject sequence that are not matched/aligned with the query. In still another example, a 110 amino acid query sequence is aligned with a 100 residue reference sequence to determine percent identity. The addition in the query occurs at the N-terminus of the query sequence and therefore, the FASTDB alignment may not show a match/alignment of the first 10 residues at the N-terminus. If the remaining 100 amino acid residues of the query sequence have 95% identity to the entire length of the reference sequence, the N-terminal addition of the query would be ignored and the percent identity of the query to the reference sequence would be 95%.

As used herein, the terms “correspond(s) to” and “corresponding to,” as they relate to sequence alignment, are intended to mean enumerated positions within the reference protein, e.g., CedPV G protein, and those positions in the modified CedPV G protein that align with the positions on the reference protein. Thus, when the amino acid sequence of a subject CedPV G protein is aligned with the amino acid sequence of a reference CedPV G protein, e.g., SEQ ID NO:7, the amino acids in the subject sequence that “correspond to” certain enumerated positions of the reference sequence are those that align with these positions of the reference sequence, e.g., SEQ ID NO:7, but are not necessarily in these exact numerical positions of the reference sequence. Methods for aligning sequences for determining corresponding amino acids between sequences are described herein. Accordingly, the invention provides novel peptides whose sequences correspond to the sequence of SEQ ID NO:7.

Variants resulting from insertion of the polynucleotide encoding a protein disclosed herein into an expression vector system are also contemplated. For example, variants (usually insertions) may arise from when the amino terminus and/or the carboxy terminus of a modified protein is/are fused to another polypeptide.

In another aspect, the invention provides deletion variants wherein one or more amino acid residues in the modified protein are removed. Deletions can be effected at one or both termini of the modified protein, or with removal of one or more non-terminal amino acid residues of the modified protein. Deletion variants, therefore, include all fragments of the modified protein.

Within the confines of the disclosed percent identity, the invention also relates to substitution variants of disclosed polypeptides of the invention. Substitution variants include those polypeptides wherein one or more amino acid residues of a modified protein are removed and replaced with alternative residues. In one aspect, the substitutions are conservative in nature; however, the invention embraces substitutions that are also non-conservative. Conservative substitutions for this purpose may be defined as set out in the tables below. Amino acids can be classified according to physical properties and contribution to secondary and tertiary protein structure. A conservative substitution is recognized in the art as a substitution of one amino acid for another amino acid that has similar properties. Exemplary conservative substitutions are set out in below.

TABLE I Conservative Substitutions SIDE CHAIN CHARACTERISTIC AMINO ACID Aliphatic Non-polar G, A, P, I, L, V Polar - uncharged C, S, T, M, N, Q Polar - charged D, E, K, R Aromatic H, F, W,Y Other N, Q, D, E

Alternatively, conservative amino acids can be grouped as described in Lehninger, [Biochemistry, Second Edition; Worth Publishers, Inc. NY, N.Y. (1975), pp. 71 77] as set out below.

TABLE II Conservative Substitutions SIDE CHAIN CHARACTERISTIC AMINO ACID Non-polar (hydrophobic) A. Aliphatic: A, L, I, V, P B. Aromatic: F, W C. Sulfur-containing: M D. Borderline: G Uncharged-polar A. Hydroxyl: S, T, Y B. Amides: N, Q C. Sylfhydryl: C D. Borderline: G Positively Charged (Basic): K, R, H Negatively Charged (Acidic) D, E

And still other alternative, exemplary conservative substitutions are set out below.

TABLE III Conservative Substitutions Original Residue Exemplary Substitution Ala (A) Val, Leu, Ile Arg (R) Lys, Gln, Asn Asn (N) Gln, His, Lys, Arg Asp (D) Glu Cys (C) Ser Gln (Q) Asn Glu (E) Asp His (H) Asn, Gln, Lys, Arg Ile (I) Leu, Val, Met, Ala, Phe Leu (L) Ile, Val, Met, Ala, Phe Lys (K) Arg, Gln, Asn Met (M) Leu, Phe, Ile Phe (F) Leu, Val, Ile, Ala Pro (P) Gly Ser (S) Thr Thr (T) Ser Trp (W) Tyr Tyr (Y) Trp, Phe, Thr, Ser Val (V) Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Ala

It should be understood that the definition of peptides or polypeptides of the invention is intended to include polypeptides bearing modifications other than insertion, deletion, or substitution of amino acid residues. By way of example, the modifications may be covalent in nature, and include for example, chemical bonding with polymers, lipids, other organic and inorganic moieties. Such derivatives may be prepared to increase circulating half-life of a polypeptide, or may be designed to improve the targeting capacity of the polypeptide for desired cells, tissues or organs. Similarly, the invention further embraces modified peptides that have been covalently modified to include one or more water-soluble polymer attachments such as polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol.

The present invention is also directed to antibodies or fragments thereof that specifically bind to CedPV or fragments of any of the CedPV proteins disclosed herein.

In particular, the present invention provides antibodies or antibody fragments that bind to the four hydrophobic pockets in the head of the G glycoprotein of the Cedar virus. The antibodies may be monoclonal or polyclonal. Cedar virus likely begins the infection process by binding to the ephrin B2 transmembrane protein that is present on at least endothelial cells, among others. Specifically, the ephrin B2 protein contains a “GH-loop region” that inserts into the 4 hydrophobic binding pockets on the head of the G glycoprotein of Cedar virus, thus allowing the virus to bind specifically to the cell surface protein and begin the infection process. The contact residues of Cedar virus that bind the ephrin B2 are V507, F458 and I401, with the letters referring to the standard one-letter abbreviation of standard amino acids and the numbering referring to the amino acid numbering of SEQ ID NO:7 according to the sequences disclosed herein. As such, the present invention provides antibodies or antibody fragments that bind the non-linear epitope of Cedar virus defined by V507/F458/I401, provided the antibodies or antibody fragments, provided that the antibodies are not any of the antibodies disclosed in PCT/US05/040050 and PCT/US12/35806 which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

For example, antibodies encompassed by the present invention, include, but are not limited to, antibodies specific for CedPV G glycoprotein, antibodies that cross react with Hendra Virus G glycoprotein and/or Nipah Virus G Glycoprotein and neutralizing antibodies. By way of example a characteristic of a neutralizing antibody includes, but is not limited to, the ability to block or prevent infection of a host cell. The antibodies of the invention may be characterized using methods well known in the art.

The antibodies useful in the present invention can encompass monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal antibodies, antibody fragments (e.g., Fab, Fab′, F(ab′)2, Fv, Fc, etc.), chimeric antibodies, bispecific antibodies, heteroconjugate antibodies, single chain (ScFv), mutants thereof, fusion proteins comprising an antibody portion, humanized antibodies, and any other modified configuration of the immunoglobulin molecule that comprises an antigen recognition site of the required specificity, including glycosylation variants of antibodies, amino acid sequence variants of antibodies, and covalently modified antibodies. Examples of antibodies are derived from murine, rat, human, primate, or any other origin (including chimeric or humanized antibodies).

Methods of preparing monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies are well known in the art. Polyclonal antibodies can be raised in a mammal, for example, by one or more injections of an immunizing agent and, if desired an adjuvant. Examples of adjuvants include, but are not limited to, keyhole limpet, hemocyanin, serum albumin, bovine thryoglobulin, soybean trypsin inhibitor, Freund complete adjuvant and MPL-TDM adjuvant. The immunization protocol can be determined by one of skill in the art.

The antibodies may alternatively be monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies may be produced using hybridoma methods (see, e.g., Kohler, B. and Milstein, C. (1975) Nature 256:495-497 or as modified by Buck, D. W., et al., In Vitro, 18:377-381 (1982).

If desired, the antibody of interest may be sequenced and the polynucleotide sequence may then be cloned into a vector for expression or propagation. The sequence encoding the antibody of interest may be maintained in vector in a host cell and the host cell can then be expanded and frozen for future use. In an alternative, the polynucleotide sequence may be used for genetic manipulation to “humanize” the antibody or to improve the affinity, or other characteristics of the antibody (e.g., genetically manipulate the antibody sequence to obtain greater affinity to the G glycoprotein and/or greater efficacy in inhibiting the fusion of a Cedar Virus, Hendra or Nipah virus to the host cell receptor.).

The antibodies may also be humanized by methods known in the art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,816,567; 5,807,715; 5,866,692; 6,331,415; 5,530,101; 5,693,761; 5,693,762; 5,585,089; and 6,180,370, which are incorporated by reference. In yet another embodiment, fully human antibodies may be obtained by using commercially available mice that have been engineered to express specific human immunoglobulin proteins.

In another embodiment, antibodies may be made recombinantly and expressed using any method known in the art. By way of example, antibodies may be made recombinantly by phage display technology. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,565,332; 5,580,717; 5,733,743; and 6,265,150; and Winter et al., Annu. Rev. Immunol. 12:433-455 (1994). Alternatively, the phage display technology (McCafferty et al., Nature 348:552-553 (1990)) can be used to produce human antibodies and antibody fragments in vitro. Phage display can be performed in a variety of formats; for review see, e.g., Johnson, Kevin S, and Chiswell, David J., Current Opinion in Structural Biology 3:564-571 (1993). By way of example, a soluble G glycoprotein as described herein may be used as an antigen for the purposes of isolating recombinant antibodies by these techniques.

Antibodies may be made recombinantly by first isolating the antibodies and antibody producing cells from host animals, obtaining the gene sequence, and using the gene sequence to express the antibody recombinantly in host cells (e.g., CHO cells). Another method which may be employed is to express the antibody sequence in plants (e.g., tobacco) or transgenic milk. Methods for expressing antibodies recombinantly in plants or milk have been disclosed. See, for example, Peeters, et al. Vaccine 19:2756 (2001); Lonberg, N. and D. Huszar Int. Rev. Immunol 13:65 (1995); and Pollock, et al., J Immunol Methods 231:147 (1999), which are incorporated by reference. Methods for making derivatives of antibodies, e.g., humanized, single chain, etc. are known in the art.

The antibodies of the invention can be bound to a carrier by conventional methods, for use in, for example, isolating or purifying CedPV G glycoproteins or detecting Hendra or Nipah G glycoproteins in a biological sample or specimen. Alternatively, by way of example, the neutralizing antibodies of the invention may be administered as passive immunotherapy to a subject infected with or suspected of being infected with Hendra, Nipah and/or Cedar virus. The terms “subject” and “patient” are used interchangeably and include but are not limited to humans, simians, farm animals, sport animals and pets. Veterinary uses are also encompassed by the invention.

Diagnostics

The proteins, protein fragment and/or antibodies of the invention may be used in a variety of immunoassays for Cedar virus. The recombinant expressed protein fragments of the invention can be produced with high quality control and are suitable as a antigen for the purposes of detecting antibody in biological samples. By way of example, and not limitation, a soluble CedPV G glycoprotein could be used as an antigen in an ELISA assay to detect antibody in a biological sample from a subject.

The nucleic acids, including primers and probes, of the invention are also be used in a variety of assays for Cedar virus. The primers and probes of the invention are used to detect the presence of ribonucleic acids encoding the Cedar virus in a subject. The present invention also includes a method for detecting the presence of Cedar virus utilizing nucleic acid amplification techniques, for example reverse transcriptase-PCR methods, utilizing repeated cycles of denaturations, primer annealing and extension carried out with DNA polymerase, for example Taq polymerase, to lead to exponential increases in derived nucleic acid, so as to facilitate detection of the presence of the virus.

Vaccines

This invention also relates to vaccines for Cedar virus. In one aspect the vaccines are DNA based vaccines. One skilled in the art is familiar with administration of expression vectors to obtain expression of an exogenous protein in vivo. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,436,908; 6,413,942; and 6,376,471. Viral-based vectors for delivery of a desired polynucleotide and expression in a desired cell are well known in the art and non-limiting examples are described herein. In another aspect, the vaccines are protein-based and comprise one or more fragments of the proteins thor protein fragment of the invention. Examples of protein fragments include but are not limited to ectodomains, transmembranes domains, cytoplasmic domains and functional portions thereof, as well as portions that are specifically reactive to neutralizing antibodies. Vaccines may also be antibody-based vaccines for more immediate treatment as well as prophylaxis against infection.

Administration of expression vectors includes but is not limited to local or systemic administration, including injection, oral administration, particle gun or catheterized administration, and topical administration. Targeted delivery of therapeutic compositions containing an expression vector, or subgenomic polynucleotides can also be used. Receptor-mediated DNA delivery techniques are described in, for example, Findeis et al., Trends Biotechnol. (1993) 11:202; Chiou et al., Gene Therapeutics: Methods And Applications Of Direct Gene Transfer (J. A. Wolff, ed.) (1994); Wu et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1988) 263:621; Wu et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1994) 269:542; Zenke et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1990) 87:3655; Wu et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1991) 266:338.

Non-viral delivery vehicles and methods can also be employed, including, but not limited to, polyeationic condensed DNA linked or unlinked to killed adenovirus alone (see, e.g., Curiel, Hum. Gene Ther. (1992) 3:147); ligand-linked DNA (see, e.g., Wu, J. Biol. Chem. (1989) 264:16985); eukaryotic cell delivery vehicles cells (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,482; PCT Publication Nos. WO 95/07994; WO 96/17072; WO 95/30763; and WO 97/42338) (all of which are incorporated by reference) and nucleic charge neutralization or fusion with cell membranes. Naked DNA can also be employed. Exemplary naked DNA introduction methods are described in PCT Publication No. WO 90/11092 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,859, which are incorporated by reference. Liposomes that can act as gene delivery vehicles are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,422,120; PCT Publication Nos. WO 95/13796; WO 94/23697; WO 91/14445; and EP 0524968, which are incorporated by reference. Additional approaches are described in Philip, Mol. Cell. Biol. (1994) 14:2411, and in Woffendin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (1994) 91:1581, which are incorporated by reference.

For human administration, codons comprising a polynucleotide encoding a protein or fragment thereof may be optimized for human use.

In another aspect of the invention, a soluble CedPV G glycoprotein is used as a subunit vaccine. The soluble CedPV glycoprotein or combination thereof may be administered by itself or in combination with an adjuvant. Examples of adjuvants include, but are not limited, aluminum salts, water-in-soil emulsions, oil-in-water emulsions, saponin, QuilA and derivatives, iscoms, liposomes, cytokines including gamma interferon or interleukin 12, DNA, microencapsulation in a solid or semi-solid particle, Freunds complete and incomplete adjuvant or active ingredients thereof including muramyl dipeptide and analogues, DEAE dextran/mineral oil, Alhydrogel, Auspharm adjuvant, and Algammulin.

The subunit vaccine comprising soluble CedPV G glycoprotein or combinations thereof can be administered orally, intravenously, subcutaneously, intraarterially, intramuscularly, intracardially, intraspinally, intrathoracically, intraperitoneally, intraventricularly, sublingually, and/or transdermally.

Dosage and schedule of administration can be determined by methods known in the art. Efficacy of the soluble CedPV G glycoprotein or combinations thereof as a vaccine for Cedar, Hendra, Nipah or related Henipavirus viruses may also be evaluated by methods known in the art.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Urine (approximately 0.5-1 ml) was collected off plastic sheets placed underneath a colony of flying foxes (predominantly Pteropus alecto with some P. Poliocephalus in the mixed population) in Cedar Grove, South East Queensland, Australia and pooled into 2 ml tubes containing 0.5 ml of viral transport medium (SPGA: a mix of sucrose, phosphate, glutamate and albumin plus penicillin, streptomycin and fungizone). The tubes were temporarily stored on ice after collection and transported to a laboratory in Queensland, frozen at −80° C. The samples were thawed at 4° C. and centrifuged at 16,000×g for 1 min to pellet debris. Urine in the supernatant (approximately 0.5-1 ml) was diluted 1:10 in cell culture media.

The diluted urine was centrifuged at 1,200×g for 5 min and split evenly over Vero, PaKi, PaBr, PaSp and PaPl cell monolayers in 75-cm² tissue culture flasks. Cell lines used this study were Vero (ATCC), HeLa-USU (22), and the P. alecto primary cell lines derived from kidney (PaKi), brain (PaBr), (spleen) PaSp and placenta (PaPl). Cells were grown in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium Nutrient Mixture F-12 Ham supplemented with double strength antibiotic-antimycotic (Invitrogen), 10 μg/ml ciprofloxacin (MP Biomedicals) and 10% fetal calf serum at 37° C. in the presence of 5% CO₂. The flasks were rocked for 2 h at 37° C., 14 ml of fresh cell culture media was added and then incubated for 7 days at 37° C. The flasks were observed daily for toxicity, contamination, or viral cytopathic effect (CPE).

Syncytial CPE was observed in kidney cell (PaKi) monolayers 5 days post inoculation (dpi) with two different urine samples. No CPE was observed in any of the four other cell lines. Supernatant harvested 6 dpi was used to inoculate fresh PaKi cell monolayers. After two passages in PaKi cells, the virus was able to infect and cause CPE in Vero cells. The CPE morphology of the virus, however, in Vero cells was different from that of HeV infection. Further analysis using HeV-specific PCR primers indicated that the new bat virus was not an isolate of HeV.

Example 2

Cells from Example 1 showing syncytial CPE were screened using published broadly reactive primers (31) for all known paramyxoviruses and a subset of paramyxoviruses. PCR products were gel extracted and cloned into pGEM T-Easy (Promega) to facilitate sequencing using M13 primers. Sequences were obtained and aligned with known paramyxovirus sequences allowing for initial classification.

The entire genomic sequence was analyzed using a combination of 454 sequencing (43) and conventional Sanger sequencing. Virions from tissue culture supernatant were collected by centrifugation at 30,000×g for 60 min and resuspended in 140 μl of PBS and mixed with 560 μl of freshly made AVL for RNA extraction using QIAamp Viral RNA mini kit (Qiagen). Synthesis of cDNA and random amplification was conducted using a modification of a published procedure (44). Briefly, cDNA synthesis was performed using a random octomer-linked to a 17-mer defined primer sequence: (5′-GTTTCCCAGTAGGTCTCNNN NNNNN-3′ SEQ ID NO: 12) and SuperScript III Reverse Transcriptase (Life Technologies). 8 μl of ds-cDNA was amplified in 200 μl PCR reactions with hot-start Taq polymerase enzyme (Promega) and 5′-A*G*C*A*C TGTAGGTTTCCCAGTAGGTCTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 13 where * denotes thiol modifications) as amplification primers for 40 cycles of 95° C./1 min, 48° C./1 min, 72° C./1 min after an initial denaturation step of 5 min at 95° C. and followed by purification with the QIAquick PCR purification kit (Qiagen). Sample preparation for Roche 454 sequencing (454 Life Sciences Branford, Conn., USA) was performed according to the manufacturer's suggested protocol (Rapid Library Preparation and emPCR Lib-LSV).

To obtain an accurate CedPV genome sequence, 454 generated data (after removing low quality, ambiguous and adapter sequences) was analysed by both de novo assembly and read mapping of raw reads onto the CedPV draft genome sequence derived from Sanger sequencing. For 454 read mapping, SNPs and DIPs generated with the CLC software were manually assessed for accuracy by visualising the mapped raw reads (random PCR errors are obvious compared to real SNPs and DIPs especially when read coverage is deep). Consensus sequences for both 454 de novo and read mapping assembly methods were then compared to the Sanger sequence with the latter used to resolve conflicts within the low coverage regions as well as to resolve 454 homopolymer errors.

Sequences of genome termini were determined by 3′- and 5′-RACE using a previously published protocol (45). Briefly, approximately 100 ng of RNA was ligated with adaptor DT88 (see reference for sequence information) using T4 RNA ligase (Promega) followed by cDNA synthesis using the SuperScript III RT kit (Life Technologies) and an adaptor-specific primer, DT89. PCR amplification was then carried out using DT89 and one or more genome-specific primers. PCR products were sequenced directly using either DT89 or genome specific primers by an in-house service group on the ABI Sequencer 3100.

The CLC Genomics Workbench v4.5.1 (CLC Inc, Aarhus, Denmark) was used to trim 454 adapter and cDNA/PCR primer sequences, to remove low quality, ambiguous and small reads <15 bp and to perform de novo and read mapping assemblies all with default parameters. Clone Manager Professional version 9.11 (Scientific and Educational Software, Cary, N.C., USA) was used to join overlapping contigs generated by de novo assembly. Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the neighbor-joining algorithm with bootstrap values determined by 1,000 replicates in the MEGA4 software package (46).

Considering the formation of syncytial CPE by this new virus and the previous success in isolating paramyxoviruses from bat urine, paramyxovirus family-specific and genus-specific primers were used to determine whether this new virus was a member of the family Paramyxoviridae. Positive PCR fragments of the expected sizes were obtained from the Paramyxovirinae and Respirovirus/Morbillivirus/Henipavirus primer sets developed by Tong et al (31).

Sequencing of the PCR products indicated that it was a new paramyxovirus most closely related to HeV and NiV. Based on these preliminary data, the virus was named Cedar virus (CedPV) after the location of the bat colony sampled.

As shown in FIG. 1, the genome of CedPV is 18,162 nt in length and is most similar to that of HeV in the family. The full genome sequence has been deposited to GenBank (Accession No. JQ001776). The genome size is a multiple of 6, which is in perfect agreement with the Rule-of-Six observed for all known members of the subfamily Paramyxovirinae (3). The genome of CedPV has a 3-nt intergenic sequence of CTT absolutely conserved at all seven positions and highly conserved gene start and stop signals similar to those present in HeV and NiV (FIG. 2).

Also similar to the HeV genome is the presence of relatively large non-coding regions in the CedPV genome (FIG. 1 and Table 1). The overall protein-coding capacity of the CedPV genome is 87.41% which is higher than HeV at 82.12%. As the genome size of CedPV and HeV is very similar, the increased coding capacity of CedPV is attributed to an increase in protein sizes for five of the six major proteins, with the L protein being 257-aa larger (Table 1). At 2,501 aa, the CedPV L protein is the largest, not only in the family Paramyxoviridae but also for all known viruses in the order Mononegavirale.

TABLE 1 Comparison of common genes among CedPV, HeV and NiV Open Reading Frame Length of % sequence % sequence Untranslated Length identity to identity to Regions (nt) Gene Virus (aa) CedPV HeV 5′ UTR 3′ UTR N CedPV 510 88 334 HeV 532 58 57 568 NiV 532 59 92 57 586 P CedPV 737 98 192 HeV 707 25 105 469 NiV 709 27 65 105 469 C CedPV 177 HeV 166 26 NiV 166 25 83 M CedPV 359 114 408 HeV 352 60 100 200 NiV 352 60 89 100 200 F CedPV 557 276 88 HeV 546 42 272 418 NiV 546 43 87 284 412 G CedPV 622 98 139 HeV 604 29 233 516 NiV 602 30 78 233 504 L CedPV 2501 293 63 HeV 2244 50 153 67 NiV 2244 50 86 153 67

Phylogenetic analysis based on the full length genome sequence and the deduced amino acid sequences of each structural protein confirmed the initial observation that CedPV is most closely related to henipaviruses in the family. A phylogenetic tree based on the deduced sequences of the nucleocapsid protein (N) is presented in FIG. 3A. A phylogenetic tree analysis based on whole genome sequences gave similar results (FIG. 3B). Indeed, CedPV is more closely related to HeV and NiV than henipavirus-like sequences detected in African bats (26, 32) as shown in a phylogenetic tree based on the only sequences available of a 550-nt L gene fragment (FIG. 3C).

Example 3

First discovered for the parainfluenza virus 5 (PIV5, previously known as simian virus 5), almost all members of Paramyxovirinae have a P gene which produces multiple proteins through an RNA editing mechanism by addition of non-templated G residues leading to production of N-terminal co-linear proteins from different reading frames downstream from the editing site (3, 33). These multiple gene products are known to play a key role in antagonizing the innate response of susceptible hosts (3).

The CedPV genome codes for P protein of 737-aa and a C protein of 177-aa. PCR analysis, however, failed to find the highly conserved, cysteine-rich V protein ORF that is present in most other paramyxoviruses. The absence of the V protein ORF is attributed to the RNA editing site, with a sequence of AAAAGGG that is conserved in all other known HeV and NiV isolates discovered to date, is missing from the CedPV P gene sequence.

To verify that there are no multiple mRNAs produced from the CedPV P gene, direct sequencing of P gene transcripts was conducted from CedPV-infected Vero cells using multiple sets of primers generating overlapping fragments covering the entire coding region of the P gene. Briefly, quantitative PCR assays (qPCR) were established based on CedPV-specific sequences obtained from the high throughput sequencing. A TaqMan assay on the P gene was developed and used for all subsequent studies. The sequences of the primer/probe were as follows:

forward primer, 5′-TGCAT TGAGC GAACC CATAT AC (SEQ ID NO: 14); reverse primer, 5′-GCACG CTTCT TGACA GAGTT GT; (SEQ ID NO: 15); probe, 5′-TCCCG AGAAA CCCTC TGTGT TTGA-MGB (SEQ ID NO: 16).

Each produced uniform trace files indicating a lack of RNA editing activities, which is very different from the mixed peaks generated by HeV and NiV immediately after the editing site (FIG. 4). It appears that CedPV is the first-identified member of Paramyxovirinae that lacks both RNA editing and any V-related coding sequence in its P gene.

Example 4

The striking similarity in genome size and organization and the presence of highly conserved protein domains among the N, M and L proteins between CedPV and henipaviruses would indicate that CedPV may be antigenically related to HeV and/or NiV. To prepare antibodies directed against CedPV, the coding region for the CedPV N protein was amplified by PCR with a pair of primers flanked by AscI (5′ end) and NotI (3′ end) sites for cloning into a previously described GST-fusion expression vector (47). The expression and purification by gel elution was conducted as previously described (48). For antibody production, purified protein was injected subcutaneously into 4 different sites of 2 adult (at a dose of 100 μg per animal) New Zealand white female rabbits at days 0 and 27. A previously published triple adjuvant (49) was used for the immunization. Animals were checked for specific antibodies after days 5 and 42 and euthanized at day 69 for the final blood collection.

For immunofluorescence antibody test, Vero cell monolayers were prepared in 8-well chamber slides by seeding at a concentration of 30,000 cells/well in 300 μl of cell media and incubating over night at 37° C. The cell monolayers were infected with an MOI of 0.01 of CedPV, HeV or NiV and fixed with 100% ice-cold methanol at 24 hours post-infection. The chamber slides were blocked with 100 μl/well of 1% BSA in PBS for 30 min at 37° C. before adding 50 μl/well of rabbit sera against CedPV N or NiV N diluted 1:1000. After incubation at 37° C. for 30 min, the slides were washed three times in PBS-T and incubated with 50 μl/well of anti-rabbit 488 Alexafluore conjugate (Life Technologies) diluted 1:1000 at 37° C. for 30 min. The slides were then washed three times in PBS-T and mounted in 50% glycerol/PBS for observation under a fluorescence microscope.

For virus neutralization test, serial two-fold dilutions of sera were prepared in duplicate in a 96-well tissue culture plate in 50 μl cell media (Minimal Essential Medium containing Earle's salts and supplemented with 2 mM glutamine, antibiotic-antimycotic and 10% fetal calf serum). An equal volume containing 200 TCID₅₀ of target virus was added and the virus-sera mix incubated for 30 min at 37° C. in a humidified 5% CO₂ incubator. 100 μl of Vero cell suspension containing 2×10⁵ cells/ml was added and the plate incubated at 37° C. in a humidified 5% CO₂ incubator. After 4 days, the plate was examined for viral CPE. The highest serum dilution generating complete inhibition of CPE was defined as the final neutralizing titer.

Staining of CedPV-infected Vero cells using rabbit anti-henipavirus antibodies indicated the presence of cross-reactivity. This cross-reactivity was further confirmed in reverse by staining of HeV-infected Vero cells using a rabbit serum raised against a recombinant CedPV N protein (FIG. 5). Analysis by virus neutralization test, however, found that henipavirus-neutralizing antibodies were unable to neutralize CedPV and vice versa. See also FIG. 6 which shows IFAT conducted with anti-CedPV serum on Vero cells infected with J paramyxovirus (JPV), Rinderpest virus (RPV), Sendai virus (SeV), Menangle virus (MenPV) and CedPV, respectively. Mock infected cell monolayer was included as a negative control

Example 5

To further investigate the relationship between CedPV and recognized henipaviruses, CedPV's use of the ephrin-B2 and -B3 host cell proteins was examined. Typically, HeV and NiV use ephrin-B2 receptor as points of entry for infection for CedPV infection (22, 34). Human ephrin B2 and B3 genes were cloned into pQCXIH (Clontech) and the resulting plasmids packaged into retrovirus particles in the GP2-293 packaging cell line (Clontech) and pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus G glycoprotein (VSV-G) following the manufacturer's instructions. HeLa-USU cell line (22) was infected with the VSV-G pseudotyped retrovirus particles in the presence of 1 μg/ml polybrene (Sigma). 8 hours post infection, the medium was changed and the cells were allowed to recover for 24 hours, which allows time for completion of the retroviral insert into the cellular genome and for expression of the hygromycin resistance gene.

24 hours post-infection, cells transformed by the retrovirus were selected for by the addition of 200 μg/ml hygromycin in the media. Stocks of cells that were resistant to hygromycin were prepared and frozen. HeLa-USU cells and ephrin-expressing HeLa-USU cells were seeded in 6-well tissue culture plates at a density of 250,000 cells/well overnight. The viruses (HeV and CedPV) were diluted to give an MOI of 0.01 and inoculated into the wells. The cell monolayers were examined daily for syncytial CPE.

For CedPV, similar observations were made with respect to the ephrin-B2 receptor. As shown in FIG. 7, CedPV failed to infect HeLa-USU, but was able to infect and cause syncytial CPE when the human ephrin-B2 gene was expressed. In contrast, when ephrin-B3 molecule was introduced, there was no evidence of infection.

Example 6

Ferrets, guinea pigs, and mice exhibit differing responses to HeV and NiV infections, with ferrets and guinea pigs, but not mice, developing severe disease characterized by systemic vasculitis (20, 35, 36, 37, 38). CedPV (2×10⁶ TCID₅₀/ml), which was passaged twice in bat PaKi cells, was administered to 2 male ferrets (1 ml oronasally), 4 female guinea pigs (1 ml intraperitoneally) and 5 female Balb-C mice (50 μl oronasally). Guinea pigs and mice were implanted with temperature sensing microchips (LifeChip Bio-thermo®, Destron Fearing) and weighed daily. Ferret rectal temperature and weight was recorded at sampling times. Animals were observed daily for clinical signs of illness and were euthanized at 21 days post-inoculation. Sera were collected on days 10, 15 and 21 to test for neutralizing antibody against CedPV.

Based on the asymptomatic seroconversion to CedPV noted in the ferrets, 7 additional female ferrets were exposed by the oronasal route to a lower dose of 3×10³ TCID₅₀. Two animals were euthanized on each of days 6, 8 and 10 post-inoculation and one on day 20. Nasal washes, oral swabs, and rectal swabs were collected on days 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 and urine was sampled on the day of euthanasia. Each collected specimen was assessed for the CedPV genome. A wide range of tissue samples were collected at post mortem examination and assessed by routine histology, immunohistochemistry (using rabbit antibodies raised against recombinant CedPV and NiV N proteins, respectively), qPCR (see above) and virus isolation using reagents and procedures previously established (16).

In contrast to the response from exposure to NiV and HeV, the ferrets and guinea pigs exposed to CedPV remained clinically well, although neutralizing antibody was detected in serum between 10 to 21 days pi (Table 2). Balb-C mice exposed to CedPV also remained clinically well but did not develop neutralizing antibody in serum by day 21 pi. In ferrets electively euthanized at earlier time-points, there was reactive hyperplasia of tonsillar lymphoid tissue, retropharyngeal and bronchial lymph nodes, accompanied by edema and erythrophagocytosis. CedPV antigen was detected in bronchial lymph node of one animal euthanized on day 6 pi, consistent with viral replication in that tissue. Cross-reactive immunostaining against anti-NiV N protein antibodies was also noted (FIG. 8). No other significant histological lesions were identified.

TABLE 2 Antibody responses in CedPV-infected ferrets and guinea pigs Neutralizing antibody Days post titers Animal # inoculation CedPV HeV Ferret 1 0 -ve -ve 10 1:320  -ve 15 1:640  -ve 21 1:1280 -ve Ferret 2 0 -ve -ve 10 1:320  -ve 15 1:640  -ve 21 1:1280 -ve Guinea pig 1 0 -ve -ve 10 -ve -ve 21 1:80  -ve Guinea pig 2 0 -ve -ve 10 -ve -ve 21 -ve -ve Guinea pig 3 0 -ve -ve 10 -ve -ve 21 -ve -ve Guinea pig 4 0 -ve -ve 10 -ve -ve 21 1:160  -ve

Viral RNA was detected in selected lymphoid tissues of 3 of 4 ferrets sampled day 6 to 8 pi, including pharynx, spleen, and retropharyngeal and bronchial lymph nodes, as well as the submandibular lymph node of the ferret euthanized on day 20 pi. This pattern of lymphoid involvement suggests that there may be transient replication in the upper and lower respiratory tracts although CedPV genome was not recovered from nasal washes, oral swabs, pharynx or lung tissue of affected animals.

Example 7

Sera from 100 flying foxes collected during 2003-2005 from Queensland, Australia were screened for neutralizing antibodies to CedPV. Virus neutralization test was conducted as described above (antibody tests). All serum samples were tested at a dilution of 1:20. Due to the antigenic cross-reactivity observed between HeV and CedPV described above, virus neutralization tests were conducted to obtain more accurate infection data for each virus. Overall, 23% of the sera were CedPV-positive and 37% HeV-positive. Co-infection was reflected in 8% of the sera tested.

Example 8

The CedPV-G and F glycoproteins also represent an important system to explore the mapping of the henipavirus G and F functional domains. The CedPV-F is only 42% and 43% identical with HeV-F and NiV-F respectively; and CedPV-G is 29% and 30% identical with HeV-G and NiV-G. CedPV functional ephrin receptor usage was characterized along with heterotypic F and G coexpression and fusion assays using combinations of CedPV, HeV and NiV. Codon optimized clones were prepared in a pCDNA vector and tagged for detection with the S-peptide tag. Both constructs have been expressed, detected, and found to be functional in our reporter gene cell-cell fusion assay. A pilot assay (FIG. 9) indicates this feasibility of this approach. Ephrin-B2 and -B3 negative HeLa-USU cells are negative CedPV cell-cell fusion, as has the ephrin-B3 expressing cell line Hela-B3.

Fusion is observed with 293T target cells and ephrin-B2 expressing HeLa-B2 cell line. Importantly, CedPV-F has heterotypic function with both HeV-G and NiV-G, but further; CedPV-G has heterotypic function only with HeV-F and not NiV-F (FIG. 9) and also correlates with ephrin use.

Example 9

Significant detail is available for the binding between HeV and NiV-G and either ephrin-B2 or -B3 Mutations in G can render it non-functional in fusion promotion activity and virus infectivity, while retaining ephrin receptor binding ability, at locations in the stalk or globular head. In a co-ip assay with the 3 sG proteins (HeV, NiV and CedPV) along with a series of ephrin receptors it was observed that CedPV-sG is able to bind multiple ephrin subtypes including: B1, B2, B3-weak, A1, A2, A4-weak, and A5 (FIG. 10). This remarkably wide receptor binding profile is in sharp contrast to NiV and HeV-G which bind only ephrin-B2 and -B3.

Example 10

A pilot cell-cell fusion experiment using a HeLa-USU target cell will the various ephrin receptor constructs transfected and expressed is shown in FIG. 11. Hela-USU target cell populations were prepared by transfecting in the indicated ephrin receptor constructs and then used in cell-cell fusion assay with effector cells expressing either CedPV, HeV or NiV F and G glycoproteins, and a standard fusion-reporter gene assay was carried out. CedPV G and F mediated fusion was highly permissive when either ephrin A1 or A2; or ephrin B1 or B2 was utilized; whereas we know that HeV and NiV make use of only ephrin B2 and B3.

Further, the background endogenous levels of ephrin A1 (based on gene array data) in the Hela-USU cells is the cause of the fusion signal in untransfected cells. The results of this experiment indicate the ephrin receptor binding data with CedPV G glycoprotein (FIG. 10) correlates well with CedPV receptor binding and functional cell-cell fusion carried out in vitro. A summary of the ephrin receptor binding and fusion data obtained so far is shown in Table 3 below.

Ephrin Binding Fusing A1 + + A2 + + A3 − − A4 +/− − A5 + B1 + + B2 + + B3 +/− −

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What is claimed is:
 1. A method of identifying an agent for inhibiting Hendra virus (HeV) or Nipah virus (NiV) infection, the method comprising (a) treating an in vitro population of cells with Cedar Virus (CedV) and the agent, and (b) determining the growth response of the treated cells, wherein the agent is identified as a potential inhibitor of HeV or NiV infection when proliferation of the cells treated with the agent increases compared to the proliferation of untreated CedV infected cells.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the agent is a protein.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the agent is an antibody.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the in vitro population of cells expresses the ephrin-B2 gene.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the in vitro population of cells has been genetically modified to express the ephrin-B2 gene.
 6. A method of identifying an agent for inhibiting Hendra virus (HeV) or Nipah virus (NiV) infection, the method comprising (a) treating an in vitro population of cells with Cedar Virus (CedV) and the agent, and (b) determining the cytopathic effect (CPE) in the treated cells, wherein the lack of a CPE in the treated cells is indicative that the agent potentially reduces the ability of HeV or NiV to infect a subject when the subject is exposed to HeV or NiV.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the agent is a protein.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the agent is an antibody.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein the in vitro population of cells expresses the ephrin-B2 gene.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the in vitro population of cells has been genetically modified to express the ephrin-B2 gene.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the infection is a Hendra virus (HeV) infection.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the infection is a Nipah virus (NiV) infection.
 13. The method of claim 6, wherein the infection is a Hendra virus (HeV) infection.
 14. The method of claim 6, wherein the infection is a Nipah virus (NiV) infection. 